For those that know me, I know it sounds unbelievable, but it’s true, I am running 10 miles in the Great South Run in October to raise money for the Queen Alexandra Hospital Renal Unit. Don’t worry too much, I’m training the best I can with the support and motivation of Portsmouth Joggers who are a brilliant group.

Following a live donor kidney transplant in September 2015 I want to do something to raise funding and awareness to support the fantastic work of the Renal Unit of Queen Alexandra Hospital, Portsmouth. Without the fantastic monitoring and management of my condition for over 20 years, subsequent transplant and post surgery care I would not even be able to think about running for a bus, let alone doing something like the Great South Run.

I had a kidney removed in 1996 due to kidney cancer and have received regular monitoring by the QA Renal Unit for the following nearly 20 years. By April 2015 it was decided that we needed to now plan for a transplant or dialysis would soon have to start as my remaining kidney was rapidly failing. My wife Jackie, my sister Jane, and our eldest son Jack generously put their names forward and following positive tests for all 3, my wife was totally insistent that she would be the one to donate a kidney to me.

Without my transplant I cannot think of how life would now be. Many people manage enormously well with dialysis, but I am also aware that for many dialysis can mean they are unable to work, to socialise, or to really make the most of life, which is why I would encourage anyone who is thinking of being a kidney donor to go ahead and register. It is a hugely generous and selfless thing to do and can make an enormous difference to the lives of others.

All funds raised through this activity will be donated to the QA Hospital Renal Unit to support further research and facilities for people who need to take advantage of the wonderful work that the unit delivers.