A LOCAL woman recently received an award on behalf of her late husband for his life- saving organ donation.

People from Devon who gave the ultimate gift of life through organ donation were honoured, posthumously, with the Order of St John award, run in conjunction with NHS Blood and Transplant, at a ceremony in Exeter.

Jean Corderoy from Yelverton received an award on behalf of her husband, Peter Corderoy.

The awards were presented by David Fursdon, Her Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant of Devon.

Roger Jacob, chair of the local County Priory Group of the Order of St John, said: ‘We’re delighted to be able to work with NHS Blood and Transplant to run the Organ Donor Awards for a third year.

‘Organ donation can clearly save lives and it is also vitally important to say thank you to the families whose loved ones have already donated their organs to assist others.

‘With around three people dying every day due to the shortage of organs, these donors and their families have carried out an inspirational act to help others to live.’ 

Last year, between April 2014 and March 2015, the number of deceased organ donors in the UK dropped for the first time in 11 years.

Despite this fall, the Order of St John honours the 1,282 people in the UK who donated their organs after death, leading to thousands of patients’ lives being saved or transformed.

NHS Blood and Transplant is calling for others to be inspired by this selfless act.

Everyone in the UK is urged to discuss organ donation with their families and share their decision about what they would do if called on to donate.  For more information visit www.organdonation.nhs. uk