Kidney donor is part of exclusive 500 club

Bob Wiggins, now aged 61, donated his kidney in 2013 at Guy’s Hospital, London.

And his decision was 
celebrated when NHS Blood and Transplant revealed this week that 500 people have now donatded a kidney to a stranger as a living donor in the 10 years since the law was changed to allow this.

Bob, who is a company director, has since become chairman of the charity Give A Kidney which aims to raise awareness of non-directed 
donations.

He said: “There are 
currently more than 5,000 people waiting for a kidney in the UK, and around 300 people die each year in need of one.

“We’re encouraging 
everyone to consider if you could share your spare. Many people still don’t know that any healthy adult can 
volunteer as a living donor.

“As a result of people like us donating, many hundreds of lives have been changed for the better.

“Not only that, but together this group has 
already saved the NHS tens of millions of pounds over the cost of keeping the recipients of their kidneys on dialysis treatment.”

>> Anyone wishing to consider giving a kidney to someone as a living donor can find out more at www.giveakidney.org