Families and friends of those who have ’given the gift of life’ will attend the island’s first remembrance service for organ donors.

The new Organ Donation & Transplant Remembrance Service will give families and organ recipients a chance to pay their tributes together.

Organising the event is Organ Donation Isle of Man (ODIOM).

Member Diane Taylor felt it was important to remember those who have transformed lives by dedicating a ceremony to them.

Ms Taylor (pictured right) lost her son, Daniel Boyde, who died at the age of 15 following serious head injuries in a car crash near Ramsey in 2007.

As a family they decided to donate his organs with four people being recipients.

Since then she has worked tirelessly with others on the Noble’s Hospital’s Organ Donation Memorial Garden.

She said: ’This is for anyone who has lost someone that is an organ donor or is a recipient who wants to say thank you.

’It’s coming up to Christmas and there will be people thinking of those who aren’t with us.

’You never forget who you’ve lost, but you want to keep on remembering them.’

Currently 29 people have confirmed that they will attend the service, which will be led by the Venerable Andrew Brown Archdeacon of the Isle of Man.

It will take place at St George’s Church, in Hope Street in Douglas from 3pm on December 7.

’People will be invited up to light a candle for a loved one or for their donor,’ she said.

Photographs of organ donors will also be shown on a projector screen and a ’very special’ performance on the harp will be given by a 10-year-old whose aunt was an organ donor.

Refreshments will be served and people will have the opportunity to speak to a specialist nurse about getting an update on those who have received organs from their loved ones.

Ms Taylor said getting a simple message, like ’they’re continuing to do well’ or ’they’re living a normal life’, can mean a lot.

She added: ’Donors can save or transform the lives of up to nine people and it’s so important that they are never forgotten for the gift they have given to a total stranger.

’It’s an incredible gift to give and this service will help remember and recognise them for this.

’In most cases recipients do not ever meet their donor families and for them to be able to come and remember their donor will hopefully also be very special to them also.’

Those who would like to send a photograph of their loved one who has donated organs should email a Jpeg image to [email protected] by November 25.

Find out more about ODIOM by searching @organdonationisleofman on Facebook.