In Odessa, a «Alley of Life was planted».

17 In April, transplant patients planted trees in Mykhailivskyi Square, creating a «Alley of Life». 

The alley is a symbol of the birth of new life, made possible by human sacrifice. Ukrainians already living with donor organs thus honored and thanked those who became their salvation. Apple trees were planted along the alley; they bloom every spring and bear fruit every fall – a symbol of eternal life and its continuation.

«The highest value, the highest manifestation of humanity, is when a person, while still alive, gives consent for their organs to be used to save someone else's life after death.»,” shared Yuri Andreyev, representative of the public organization «National Movement «For Transplantation».

The stories of people living with donor organs always inspire others to fight their illnesses, giving them a ray of hope and energy. Adults and children who have undergone difficult treatment, overcome illnesses, and are living completely full lives joined the event. The joy in their eyes, the joy of their parents and loved ones, brothers and sisters, is truly inspiring! Furthermore, the importance of creating such alleys is that people with donor organs can express their gratitude. The patient doesn't know the name of the one whose heart beats in their chest, whose lungs allow them to inhale the scent of spring blossoms, whose kidney or liver allows them to live on, dream, rejoice, love... a planted tree is a symbol of endless gratitude for sacrifice.

Another symbol is «the green ribbon», which the event participants tied to the planted trees. Around the world, the green ribbon is a symbol of organ donation.

Guests from the neighboring country – Moldova, where last year a «Walk of Life» appeared during European Organ Donor Day, also attended the event. «Every life saved – is not a statistic, but a human life», shared Yulia Yatsko, from the Moldovan Association of Transplant Patients and a patient on the liver transplant waiting list.

The event was held at the initiative of the National Movement "For Transplantation" and Charitable Foundation "Little Bee", with the support of the «Andreyev Family Charitable Foundation», Gorzelentrest Municipal Enterprise, Sadproekt. Plant Nursery , Advertising Agency «Beau Monde», City Council Deputies Alexander Sheremetand Vasily Ieremia, Regional Council Deputy Igor Klimenko. Students from Gymnasium No.4, comprehensive schools No.18 and No.60, volunteers from Monsters, Inc., GO English Language Learning Center, Leonid Melnichenko, and concerned Odessans also joined in the tree planting. Given the importance of this event, doctors also came to support the campaign. 
We thank the media: 7 channel , People's Radio First City. Odessa Dumskaya TV and other TV and radio channels for their informational support.

To our best photographer and friend Alexander Meloyan Thanks for the great photos!

Similar events are held in countries around the world where transplantation is widespread. Many clinics around the world also have memorial walls where the name of each person who became a donor after death is inscribed. This is how society expresses its gratitude for the life saved. The first memorial events have already taken place in Kyiv and Mykolaiv, where «Alleys of Life». 

Good deeds unite people and give them the opportunity to believe and move forward. The symbolic Alley of Donor Memory reminds Ukrainians daily of the value of life. Let the trees grow and bear fruit!