Former army officer donates one of her kidneys to a complete stranger

Jaqui Collins, who has already raised thousands of pounds for charities across East Lancashire, said she hopes the move will help save someone's life.

The 53-year-old who is known as an 'altruistic' or 'living' donor, was inspired to donate by two of her army colleagues who gifted a kidney to relatives.

But Jaqui's organ has gone to a complete stranger and she may never know who has received it.

Transplant bosses said just 26 people donated an organ to a stranger in 2016.

In February this year almost 5,000 people were waiting for a kidney in the UK.

The prolific fundraiser said she had also considered donating part of her liver and hopes to encourage others to donate their organs when they die.

Along with her mum, 76-year-old Mo Collins, Ms Collins, of Clayton-le-Moors, has raised more than £20,000 for charities including Pendleside Hospice and East Lancashire Hospice, where her best friend Roy Silva was cared for.

Earlier this year the pair, along with friend Deborah Keenan, travelled between four hospices in Lancashire on mobility scooters collecting donations as well as climbing up The Big One rollercoaster in Blackpool.

Ms Collins spent 32 years in the armed forces serving as a regimental sergeant major in the Royal Military Police and spending time in Northern Ireland, Germany and Bosnia before she left in 2014.

She said: "When I was in the army two of my friends donated their kidneys to relatives. I thought it was a wonderful thing to do.

"I thought I could give one to a stranger but I couldn't do it while I was in the army. I wasn't sure if it was legal or allowed but when I found out you could I started the ball rolling.

"I thought I could save someone's life."

She has spent the last 21 months back and forth between Preston and Manchester having numerous tests.

"I had physical and mental evaluations and an interview with an independent assessor to check I was not being coerced or blackmailed.

"I had the operation on Thursday and was out by Saturday. I feel great now."

Ms Collins said she is not sure she will ever know who received the kidney.

"The recipient is able to get my details and contact me but I can't contact them.

"I do not know if it is a man or woman or whether it was even successful. I don't know if they found a match or where the transfer took place.

"I'm going to try not to dwell on it. I will frustrate myself if I think about it too much and it is out of my hands. It is completely down to them. They might be in touch in six months, five years or never."

Ms Collins said she had no worries about how it would impact on her life.

"I feel no different to how I felt before. I feel absolutely fine.

"My family and friends were all against it. They thought I was crazy.

"They were worried about the health implications. Undergoing surgery always carries a risk and they just did not feel it was necessary."

However , Ms Collins, who believes in spiritualism, said she did get a sign from her friend Roy, who died in February 2016 from cancer, in the form of a white feather.

"It was a sign he approved. He comes to me on a regular basis." she said.

"Everything we do is in memory of Roy."

Figures from NHS Blood and Transplant Service show in 2016, 59 people donated to someone they knew directly on the transplant register, while 26 gave to altruistic donor chains.

Ms Collins said: "There are thousands of people on the organ donor list for transfers and normally they wait for an organ donor.

"I have been on the organ donor list since I was 18.

"I am a blood donor and have donated bone marrow with the Anthony Nolan charity. The kidney was like going one stage further.

"I was going to do my liver which is even easier. They take a small part of it and it renews. But I think I have done my bit and someone else can have a go now.

"I hope this will raise awareness. I don't think people will say they will give theirs to a stranger but it might make them think once they have gone they will be able to donate."

Lisa Burnapp, lead nurse for Living Donation at NHS Blood and Transplant, said: “Across the UK, more than 250 patients died last year waiting for a kidney transplant, due to a shortage of people willing to donate after their death or during their lifetime.

"However, living donation is highly successful, and thousands of people have had their lives transformed in the last decade thanks to people being willing to give a kidney while they are alive to a family member, friend or complete stranger."

Ms Collins has a number of events coming up to raise money for the East Lancashire Hospice including a Platform of Mediums event on June 23 from 7pm and a 'bag-a-bag' ladies night on July 7, both at the Hippings Vale Community Centre in Oswaldtwistle, as well as a charity night at the Balti House in Rishton on July 11.