More than 6,800 people in the UK are spending the festive season waiting for an organ transplant, over 220 of these patients being children. 

These mums, dads, wives, husbands, partners, daughters, sons can only be saved by someone giving them the greatest gift, the gift of life. 

At a time of giving, let people know that you want to save lives with NHS Blood and Transplant.

NHS Blood and Transplant is a joint England and Wales Special Health Authority. We provide the blood donation service for England and the organ donation service for the UK. We also provide donated tissues, stem cells and cord blood. We are an essential part of the NHS, saving and improving lives through public donation.

Age and health are not necessarily a barrier, and the NHS urge people to enquire even if they fear that they might not be accepted - the process is easier than you think and each organ donor can transform up to nine lives through organ donation, which saves and transforms even more lives than tissue donation.

Signing up to be an organ donor is quick and easy and makes it easier for families if they know what you want. 

Give hope to the thousands of people and hundreds of children on the transplant waiting list.

Join the NHS Organ Donor Register online.

Anthony Clarkson, Director of Organ and Tissue Donation and Transplantation, said: "Families are always involved in organ donation discussions. Please tell your family about your decision so that they know what you want."