A woman who underwent a double transplant is urging people to have a conversation about organ donation.

Becky Seaton, 39, from Scotby, had a successful kidney and pancreas organ transplant in 2016.

This week marks the annual NHS Organ Donation Week and Becky wants to get people talking about their donation wishes.

To help raise awareness, Carlisle City Council has agreed to light up a giant pink heart on the Civic Centre.

Cumbria County Council has confirmed that the citadels and Court Square will also be illuminated pink from 6pm each evening.

Becky said: "My aim is to inspire lots of family conversations about organ donation.

"Families will always be involved and the majority of families support organ donation going ahead if they knew what their loved one wanted.

"That conversation could be the most powerful thing someone ever does to help save lives."

On average, someone dies every day across the UK waiting for an organ transplant and there are currently about 7,000 people on the transplant waiting list.

Becky said: "Lighting up the Civic Centre and other iconic buildings will help spark those conversations and hopefully more lives, like mine, can be saved!

"The heart would also be in recognition of all the amazing organ donors who gave the precious gift of life and their families."

A Carlisle City Council spokesman said: “We’re pleased to support our local health authority colleagues by marking National Organ Donation week with a lit pink heart on the Civic Centre.

"The week aims to encourage everyone to have a conversation with their family about whether you want to be an organ donor or not. We hope the heart supports the campaign.”

North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust is also encouraging everyone to have a conversation with their family about whether they want to be an organ donor or not.

Jacqueline Newby, specialist organ donation nurse has explained why having a conversation is so important.

She said: “One person donating after their death can provide life-saving transplants for up to nine recipients; restore eyesight for up to four people; and prevent another six people from going blind.

"They can also transform lives of a further 40 people through transplanting heart valves, tendon, ligaments, bone or blood vessels and in many cases lives are saved after severe burns by having donated skin grafts.

"Donation after death is an incredible gift.”

Despite a law change last year regarding consent for donation, a family or a next of kin will always be consulted about organ donation.

Most families who do not know the wishes of their loved ones will refuse donation, whereas nine in 10 families support organ donation going ahead if they knew what their loved one wanted.

People can record your decision on the NHS Organ Donor Register.

Jacqueline added: “One family said a light went on in the darkness when donation was discussed on the night they lost their loved one.

"Over several years, I have met with this family and they feel their loved one lives on with others as their donation has saved the lives of four adults and one infant.

"Knowing this family and seeing their pride in the life-saving organ donor they became, is so humbling. Being involved with donor families is most rewarding part of my job.”

The Covid-19 pandemic has reduced the number of people able to donate and the transplant waiting lists are on the increase as a result, so every donor is precious.

The national campaign 'leave them certain' hopes to get families and friends talking about donation and hopefully in turn increase the lives we save.

Jacqueline added: “It’s so important to raise awareness as we want everyone to make their own decisions about donation.

"The law changed in 2020, and people are considered to want donation if they have not registered an objection.

"That said, we would always discuss this with families to find out exactly what the last decision of the person was.

"If people have not discussed this with their loved ones, it makes things less certain at a difficult time.

"I would urge everyone to have a donation discussion with their nearest and dearest, so if the worst does happen you know what they would want you to do.

Visit organdonation.nhs.uk for more information on donation and transplants.