Two sisters have staged a foodie fundraiser for Sheffield Hospitals Charity- a decade after one donated her kidney to the other.

Tracey Hoyes (51) gave the ultimate gift to sister Annette Tyas (49) 10 years ago, with the milestone prompting the pair to hold the event as a thank you to staff at the city’s Renal Department for their care.

Now Tracey is calling on others to consider becoming donors, as the charity’s preparations for World Kidney Day (14 March) gather speed.

It was a complete shock when she was first diagnosed...

Tracey said: “I’d advise anyone thinking about kidney donation to look into it and not to be frightened. It hasn’t affected me in any shape or form.

“Annette was diagnosed with Light Chain Myeloma when she was 38. It’s an extremely rare type of blood cancer which can affect different parts of the body. With Annette it affected her kidneys.

“It was a complete shock when she was first diagnosed. When she started to feel dizzy and experiencing headaches, we just put it down to her working long hours. Then her ankles started swelling.

“She was diagnosed after undertaking various tests. She was put on dialysis straight away at the Northern General Hospital, three times a week. She then had chemotherapy, and a stem cell transplant, which she had at the Royal Hallamshire Hospital.

“We knew after that treatment that she would need a kidney transplant. I wanted to do it; it really upset me to see how low her quality of life was.

I’m so glad I was able to donate a kidney to Annette...

“This was ten years ago, and Annette is still doing well. To celebrate this milestone we hosted an event to raise funds for the Renal Department at the Northern General Hospital. All the staff were fantastic and so lovely with both of us.

“We’ve never done an event like this before. We started making plans well before Christmas! The manager of a local restaurant put on a three course meal with profits going to Sheffield Hospitals Charity. 

“We also sold raffle tickets and did a collection in the village. I can’t believe how kind and generous people have been! So far, the event has raised £3,000 with funds still coming in.

“I’m so glad I was able to donate a kidney to Annette. If I could do it again I would, it hasn’t altered my health and she is now able to live her life again.”

Sheffield Hospitals Charity is celebrating World Kidney Day on 14 March with a free public open day at the Central United Reformed Church in Sheffield City Centre.

If anyone would like to find out more about kidney health, renal consultants from Sheffield Teaching Hospitals will be available with charity staff between 1.30-6pm.

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