Here are some fascinating facts about organ donation.
At any one time, there are around 10,000 people in the UK whose lives could be transformed by a transplant.
1000 people die every year waiting for a transplant. That's 3 lives lost every day, due to the shortage of organ donors.
Statistically, you are more likely to need a transplant than to become a donor.
Think you're too old to sign the organ donor register? Think again. The oldest solid organ donor so far in the UK was 84.
The oldest corneal donor on record in the UK was 104.
A donor can donate a heart, lungs, two kidneys, pancreas, liver and small bowel and can restore sight by donating their corneas. Donors can also give bone and tissue such as skin, heart valves and tendons. Skin grafts have helped people with severe burns and bone is used in orthopaedic surgery.
The need for organs in the Asian community is three to four times higher than that of the white community. This is because conditions such as diabetes and heart disease - that can result in organ failure - occur more often in the Asian population.
Black people are three times as likely as the general population to develop kidney failure.
All the major religions support organ donation and many actively promote it. You can read more about the perspective of different religions on NHSBT's website.
It is vital you discuss your wishes with your next of kin, in order to make it slightly easier should the question of organ donation ever arise.