As you might know, this is a charity very close to my heart. My amazing partner Jake has had kidney problems his whole life.

To cut a very long story short, Jake eventually needed dialysis, before his mam Ailsa very generously and bravely donated one of her kidneys to him in 2022. Unfortunately, the transplant and recovery came with multiple complications, ultimately meaning Jake is now back on the waiting list for another donor kidney.

Throughout this whole journey Kidney Care UK has been incredibly supportive. I’d particularly like to shed some extra light on the Young Adult Kidney Group. YAKG has given Jake the opportunity to meet other young people going through similar experiences, people who genuinely understand what he has and continues to go through. He’s made lifelong friends through the group and the support has meant so much to him. 🫶🏻

So, this October I’ll be walking 100 miles with my dog Bodie and our little girl Nellie (weather permitting) to support the fundraising for YAKG.

Thank you so much to everyone who donates money, shares or simply takes the time to read Jake’s story. Every donation, no matter how big or small, will help Kidney Care UK make sure that no one has to face kidney disease without support. 🧡

And finally, something that may be of interest to anyone who has ever thought about living kidney donation..

Jake’s next kidney will most likely come from a deceased donor. However, he is also enrolled in the UK Living Kidney Sharing Scheme, which means that someone can potentially donate a kidney even if they aren’t a direct match for him. The scheme works by matching donors and recipients through a chain of transplants.

If there are any wildly selfless people out there who might be interested in living kidney donation and would like to learn more about the process, you can find more information here - https://www.organdonation.nhs.uk/become-a-living-donor/donating-your-kidney/uk-living-kidney-sharing-scheme/

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