THE parents of a teenage boy who donated his organs following his death at 16 years old and helped save three lives took part in an emotional service for Organ Donation Week.

Last Thursday, families gathered at Barnsley Hospital’s chapel to honour the incredible gift of organ donation during a heartfelt service.

Joe Dale, 16, had just finished his GCSEs at Penistone Grammar and was playing football at Silkstone Recreation Ground on June 17.

He messaged his parents, Jon and Helena, asking if he could stay over at his friend’s in Silkstone but at about 6pm, his friend called them in a panic to say Joe had collapsed in the garden.

He died six days later.

The family made the brave and difficult choice to donate Joe’s organs - his kidneys, pancreas and liver were later donated to three people.

The recipients of Joe’s organs have since written to the family, thanking them.

Both Jon and Helena were at the hospital last week as candles were lit and tears shed to remember those who have selflessly donated their organs to help others.

NHS Blood and Transplant said 8,000 people across the UK are currently on the waiting list.

Doctors said there was an urgent need for more people to join the organ donation register, and urged the public to sign up.

In the UK, the law changed to presume people wish to donate their organs when they die, unless they specifically opt out.

The hospital have also shared the story of Jon Ekin, whose dad Reginald died aged 83 last year, made the decision alongside his family to donate Reginald’s corneas.

The cornea is the clear, outer layer of tissue at the front of the eye which lets in light so that people can see, but has to be removed in the first 24 hours following a death.

The Ekin family are one of many who had not previously discussed organ donation, yet decided to make the choice as Reginald, from Worsbrough Bridge, was receiving end-of-life care in Barnsley Hospital last year.

Jon, 54, said: “We hadn’t talked about donation we don’t do that in Yorkshire, do we?

“But it’s a discussion families should have because it makes the decision to donate so much easier.”

Jon’s mum passed away in 2020, just before what would have been her 57th anniversary of marriage to Reginald.

Mourning the loss of his wife, Reginald’s health began to decline.

Jon added: “Me and my sister noticed he had less of an appetite, aches and pains, and was finding it difficult to swallow.

“We were concerned.

“One day, he was sitting at home with a long-term friend, Eric.

“My dad had a blackout and Eric called the ambulance.

“Dad went into Barnsley Hospital and the next few days we were in discussion about what was going to happen.

“He was in hospital 16 days I left him on the Wednesday morning, when he was sitting up in bed flicking through the newspaper and having a cup of tea.

“I went home so I could get ready for the next day but at 2.30am I got a call from my sister that dad had taken a turn for the worse.

“I rushed straight back to hospital and staff told me dad’s body was failing him.

“Dad had a strong dose of antibiotics but didn’t respond.

“The nurse came in, we said our goodbyes and the nurses said dad had been a pleasure to care for.

“We were asked if we would consider soft tissue donation so we gave our consent to donate his corneas.

“Later, the unit gave us a packet of forget-me-not seeds for dad which was lovely.”