Swindon man encourages people to register as organ donors
Steven Light has his first kidney transplant in 2010
A man from Swindon who has received two kidney transplants wants more people to talk about organ donation and consider becoming a donor themselves.
Organ Donation Week starts today (September 22) and more than 8000 people in the UK, including nearly 600 in the South West are currently waiting for a life-saving transplant, according to the NHS.
Steven Light from Swindon received his first Kidney transplant in 2010 from a 21 year old who died in an accident.
He said: "It was emotional for me knowing someone had passed away but also quite humbling that they were able to help me and give me a second chance."
"It just shows the power of organ donation that you can save someone's life."
Mr Light wants more people to talk about organ donation and has a message to those thinking about signing up to be an organ donor:
"Just consider it a bit more. I can understand how it can feel quite scary to consider that but just think about how you are going to help someone else."
According to the NHS 400 people died last year (2024) in the UK while waiting for an organ transplant.
For recipients of organ donation the process can be challenging and Steven Light has found that art has helped him open up about the process and communicate with others.
He said: "I often find it hard to talk about what is going on for me, by expressing in a visual way your processing those emotions and you don't necessarily have to speak about it."
More people than ever before are on the waiting for a life-saving organ transplant in the UK, but donor and transplant numbers have fallen, according to the NHS.
The NHS wants local landmarks and buildings across the country to light up in pink this week, to remember the people who died last year while waiting for an organ transplant, and to encourage people to consider becoming an organ donor.