A Derriford transplant patient is raising money for kidney units

Jamie Reed, who received a kidney transplant at Derriford Hospital in December 2021 is taking on a number of challenges in order to raise money for the kidney units that treated him. 

At three years old Jamie was diagnosed with a genetic kidney condition called Alport Syndrome. The condition progressed slowly but as Jamie got older his kidney function slowly decreased. Then just over two years ago he was put on the transplant list to find a suitable kidney.

After two years on the transplant list, a live kidney donor was found, one of Jamie’s friends who had gone through the testing process. However, due to the pressures of COVID-19, Jamie’s operation was rescheduled twice. Finally, he was able to receive his transplant and was treated by the Mayflower ward at Derriford Hospital. Talking about the team who treated him, Jamie said: “They really are superb and extremely supportive, I can’t thank them enough.”

Once his operation was complete, Jamie continued his treatment at Treliske Hospital in Cornwall. He believes the hardest part of his journey was not knowing what to expect. “The fear of the unknown was also hard to get past, but I would urge anyone who is going through similar circumstances to speak with the experts. You are never alone in this.”

Now in a bid to give back to those who cared for him, Jamie is planning a number of fundraising events for the kidney units at Derriford and Treliske and provide support to others who may have kidney issues.

“Our goal is to raise as much money as possible to support the two kidney units at Treliske and Derriford. Having worked in children's services for the past 3 years, I am also keen to ensure we can support young people with kidney issues.”

Jamie will be kicking off his fundraising efforts with a Gala Dinner before attempting to set a world record. After launching a DAB radio station called Rewind Radio during lockdown, Jamie and his colleague will be broadcasting for at least 52 hours in their bid to secure the title of world record holder.

However, this won’t be his biggest challenge. Jamie, his donor, and a number of other friends will be climbing the four peaks of the UK, Ben Nevis, Scafell, Snowdown and Brown Willy. The group plan to take on the mountainous feat in March 2023 and have even managed to secure a coach to transport them between locations due to the number of people who want to get involved.

To get more updates on Jamie’s recovery and his fundraising efforts you can follow him on Twitter @JamieKernow.