Campaigners gathered to raise awareness for World Kidney Day yesterday (Thursday).

Members of the Lister Area Kidney Patients Association (LAKPA) hosted a stall at Lister Hospital in Stevenage to the mark the day, held on Thursday, March 13.

Chairman Fiona Loud said it was a good opportunity for people to learn about the importance of renal health and organ donation.

She said: “Like a lot of people I was completely unaware of how important my kidneys were until I started to have problems with them.

“My husband donated his kidney to me seven years ago. He said he didn’t want to grow old on his own and that it was a present for the both of us. Now I travel the country speaking as an expert but not just in terms of facts and figures – as someone who knows what it’s really like.

“It’s important to us that people get signed up and become aware of just how vital these body parts are and how much it could mean to someone else in need of a transplant. It is a serious matter and we will do what we can to make sure people know about it.”

Stevenage resident Sandra Byrne, 42, whose husband suffers from nephrotic syndrome, a condition in which fluid leaks out of blood vessels into body tissue, said: “I’ve been involved with the association for over 20 years because I think it is just so important that people get the right information.

“My husband has to take medication every day to keep himself in good health and I think a lot of people are unaware of how our kidneys are responsible for keeping us alive and well.”

Visit www.worldkidneyday.co.uk for more information.