I'm currently preparing to donate a kidney to my sister-in-law, Emma. She has to undergo dialysis 3 times a week to help maintain her health and this is not a long term solution. I'm aiming to raise as much money as possible for Kidney Research UK to help gain a better understanding of renal diseases and ultimately provide a cure so that patients are able to get better without having to wait for a donor (live or not) to save them.

I initially agreed to undergo test after it became apparent that other family members and friends were either not compatible or able to donate. The chancce of me being a match were small but I agreed given the extent of my effort would be to have a small amount of blood taken. Following a wait of a couple of weeks the news came back that I was a close enough match to progress to the next stage of the process. With this I began to undergo numerous tests to ensure that I was healthy enough to be a donor –not only my kidney but overall. Blood tests (that kept going missing), a CT
scan, x-rays, tests where I was injected with nuclear material to check my kidney function – harmless apart from the side effect of glowing in the dark ever since.........Just before Christmas 2016 I was given the nod by the renal consultant that I was healthy enough to donate to Emma provided I lowered my cholesterol and reducing the visceral fat surrounding my gut – all very achievable I thought until my alarm went off at 5:30 one morning before work and I hit snooze – so to provide increased motivation I agreed to be a relay team member at the London Triathlon for a second time. With added incentive of not wanting to let Emma, my team mates Simon and Nikki down and of improving my own health, my training has stepped up a level. The only thing missing was cold hard cash ..........cold, hard cash that could be used to make a real difference to people’s lives- people like Emma, who battle renal disease day in day out without complaint!

So in the words of Bob Geldof “I don’t like Mondays” ........sorry that was the wrong one (and he didn't swear) “Give me the money”