Two nurses from NHS Forth Valley have been ‘turning the peaks pink’ as part of an exciting national event to raise awareness for Organ and Tissue Donation Week 2024.

May Cooper and Caroline Gallier, who work within the Scotland Organ Donation Services team at Forth Valley Royal Hospital, set themselves the almighty challenge of climbing Ben Nevis, the UK’s highest mountain.

May and Caroline joined the families of donor heroes and transplant recipients who came together in a simultaneous summit of six famous peaks across the country last Friday (27 September), including Scafell Pike in England, Yr Wyddfa and Pen Y Fan in Wales, Snaefall on the Isle of Man and Slieve Donard in Northern Ireland. The challenge saw people carry photographs of their loved ones to the mountain summits to mark Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness Week.

When asked why she’d chosen to undertake this particular challenge, May said: “I think it is a great way to come together with the families affected by organ donation and to share this experience. The challenge was really tough for some which made it even more rewarding when we all reached the summit. The idea to make it a national campaign reminds us the organ donation affects everyone and we all need to play our part.”

Caroline added: “It was a tremendous day spent with such a lovely group of people, raising awareness for Organ and Tissue Donation. The views were stunning, there were lots of smiley faces at the summit, aided by surprisingly good weather!”

Around 600 people across Scotland are currently waiting for an organ transplant, including many patients in the Forth Valley area.

Over half of people in the NHS Forth Valley area (55.3%) have now registered their donation decision – 52% opting in to donation, with 3.3% choosing to opt out.

By signing up to the organ donor register you could help save the lives of several seriously ill patients. People can register their donation decision and find out more at Organ Donation Scotland or by calling 0300 123 2323.