A motorcyclist who was tragically killed in a crash has heroically saved the lives of two young men after donating his kidneys.
Nathan 'Nafe' Clarke, 27, was hurled off his bike following a collision with a car back in 2019.
A sculpture has now been unveiled to make sure that Nathan's, of Winsford, memory lives on, Cheshire Live reports.
The special sculpture put in place to commemorate organ donors has now been created as part of a place for reflection for families who have lost their relatives.
The sculpture, which is in Trentham Gardens near Stoke-on-Trent and is called 'Beyond Ithaka', was created by Staffordshire artist Robin Wight.
The artwork consists of a Mother Nature figure which forms a heart shape to resemble the organ donation logo, featuring 400 hand beaten coloured metal leaves.
The unveiling of the sculpture was featured on BBC’s ‘The One Show’ with dozens of donor family members travelling from across the country to attend. Nathan’s parents Lesley and Colin plus 17 relatives and friends attended the ceremony.
Lesley said: ”It's good to be able to go to somewhere in such a lovely place, with such a fantastic sculpture - because it is breath-taking. It is beautiful. No photographs will ever do it justice.
“That day was one of those days that the sun shone in all the right moments, at all the right times, in all the right places. It was lovely to be there with other families who have gone through similar things to what we have.”
Kirsty Lazenby, Specialist Nurse Organ Donation & Transplantation for NHS Blood and Transplant, said of the ceremony: “Because of Covid a lot of families did not have the opportunity to be together when loved ones died, so this has really given them their first chance to grieve properly together.”
In May 2020 the law in England was changed to an ‘opt-out’ system, where a person is required to specifically state if they do not wish to donate their organs. Previously you had to have a card stating that you did wish to donate.
Nathan had been an organ donor card holder since his schooldays and his donated organs saved the lives of two men. Lesley has not been told the names of the men who have been saved by her son, but knows it is two men in the Birmingham area.
Lesley said: “I know that there were two young men in their 30s in the Birmingham area. One had been on the donor list for four months and the other two-and-a-half years.
“Anybody who donates their loved one's organs, they do it with love. Because you can't give a better gift for somebody whose life depends on that organ. I'm privileged to know that Nathan had the donor account from being eight years old.
“The law change is also a benefit for everyone. Basically, you never know when you're going to be in this situation.”
Robin Wight who made the sculpture said: “When I was asked if I would consider a sculpture commission for the NHS, I was doubly honoured and delighted.
"Being asked in the first place is a great compliment, plus we all owe the NHS a debt of gratitude and our full support. I was slightly nervous about the project, but only because I want it to have the desired impact to raise awareness of such a worthy cause.”
Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - Sign up to our daily newsletter here.