The new ‘Believe Memorial Garden’, created to honour those who donated organs, officially opened at Cardiff Crematorium in Thornhill, on December 1st. The garden, which is the passion project of Anna-Louise Bates, founder of the charity Believe Organ Donation Support (Believe ODS), will provide a space to pay tribute to organ donors and offer their loved ones a place to remember them. Throughout the garden, handprints of inspirational people and celebrities who have worked with Believe ODS are on display, including British adventurer Bear Grylls, Welsh footballer Sophie Ingle, and actress Ruth Jones. The garden will also be a place to celebrate and commemorate the 10-year anniversary of the passing of the Human Transplantation Act, which set in law that organ donation consent is presumed unless a person has opted out. Anna-Louise Bates, founder of Believe ODS, said: “When my son passed away, his organ donations gave four people a second chance at life. Knowing that four lives have been saved because of him is truly remarkable. It inspired me to set up Believe ODS, with the aim of raising awareness about organ donation and dispelling myths and misunderstandings around it. “The Believe Memorial Garden will help to honour all organ donors, as well as bringing organ donation back into the public eye and educating people on it, especially the misconceptions. It will be a place where families can feel supported and remember their loved ones, while also inspiring others to consider the life-saving impact…
