Just over 3 years ago I was diagnosed with Vasculitis which ultimately led to Chronic Kidney Failure and I was told I would need a kidney tranplant. Over the next 2 years my health deteriorated as my kidney function reduced until eventually I needed to go on to dialysis.

Thanks to my brilliant wife Chris volunteering to be a donor I was eventually lucky enough to be put on the list for the operation. Chris went through tests and a big weight loss to donate and on 21st March 2018 the transplant took place. Thanks to her bravery I have got my life back.

The support I had throughout this time from family and friends was unbelievable but so was the support from the NHS. From the Renal Unit at James Cook to the sisters and nurses on the wards, from my consultant to the dialysis units, from the Transplant team, to the surgeons and nurses at Freeman Hospital I could not have been better looked after.

I want to try and give a bit back so I would like to do some fund raising to help improve the lives of patients like me and those who spend years on dialysis where a transplant hasn’t been possible.

I have been working on building up my fitness so between 4th and 6th May I will be attempting to complete a coast to coast ride covering around 150 miles and lots of very steep hills, Tan Hill and Hardknott Pass to name a couple. My fitness is probably not quite as it was but I will be doing my utmost to complete. I want to follow this up by running a half marathon in September, probably the Redcar Half Marathon, something I havent done for about 30 years. Wish me luck,

I appreciate there are a lot of very good causes out there and lots of fund raising. If anyone is able to contribute just a small amount it would really be appreciated. I just want to show how grateful I am to all the NHS staff that helped me throughout the most difficult time in my life. Thanks for reading

Andrew