(COLORADO SPRINGS) — UCHealth celebrated National Donate Life Month on Tuesday, April 1, with a special flag-raising ceremony.

UCHealth celebrated the power of organ donations at Memorial Hospital Center in Colorado Springs and brought together key figures dedicated to advancing the mission of organ donation. One of the attendees, Terri Reed, said her son Travis Wagner died in 2018; he was a registered donor.

“He lives on in our hearts,” said Reed. “But it’s also wonderful knowing that he also lives on in his recipients who he saved through organ donation.”

Now, Reed creates “donate life rocks,” painted in blue and green in honor of her son. Reed began the project over six years ago, and more than 80,000 rocks have been placed in all 50 states and seven other countries.

“Usually, there is a message on the rock that speaks about organ donation, and most of our rocks on the back also lead you to a Facebook page where you can post the rock if you found it,” Wagner said. “And I reply to every single person that posts a rock or has a question about organ and tissue donation.”

While the flags were raised on April 1 to honor heroic donors and raise awareness, they will be raised again at a second flag-raising ceremony on Thursday, April 3, at 11 a.m.