RICHMOND, Va. -- A special holiday tree lighting ceremony took place Thursday evening to honor the kindness and generosity of organ, eye and tissue donors and their families.
CBS 6 senior reporter Wayne Covil was on hand as 250 guests, including transplant recipients and donor families, took part in the annual "Tree of Life Celebration and Lighting" at the United Network for Organ Sharing in Richmond.
The event remembered the organ, eye and tissue donors from Virginia who died during the past year.
The celebration started with words from Lucy Alburger about her son, Joshua, who was an organ donor. Additionally, Rev. Willie Cottle, who received a lifesaving liver transplant and Mary Ann Stewart, who is currently on the waiting list for a kidney transplant, spoke.
All three shared their personal connection to transplantation.
As part of the event, 47 donor's name were read before family members hung an ornament on the "Tree of Life" in their memory.
The trees will remain on display through Jan. 3.
