Teen fundraising for hospital dialysis machines

The first donation made by The Canterbury Kidney Campaign Fundraiser was a cheque for £1,130

A 15-year-old girl is hoping to raise £30,000 to fund two new dialysis machines.

Lilly, from Yeovil in Somerset, was diagnosed with end-stage kidney failure in June 2024, after suffering from flu-like symptoms for three months. Following a kidney transplant Lilly's dad, Christopher, said that she is now able to live a "semi-normal life" with one kidney.

Lily said that in addition to fundraising for the machines for Bristol Children's Hospital, she wants to raise awareness of the condition amongst younger people.

Along with her dad she has completed a variety of challenges, she said: "My dad did a Brave The Shave, we also did a bingo raffle night and then post-transplant we've done an abseil."

Lilly was 14 when she was put into an induced coma, prior to which she said she "physically couldn't breathe" on her own.

A biopsy on her kidney showed that she would have to go on dialysis and would require a kidney transplant from a donor.

Lilly's dad, Christopher, told BBC Radio Somerset that he did not know whether they were going to lose her.

The family were told that the transplant waiting time for Lilly to get a new kidney could "take up to 10 years".

Lilly was placed into an induced coma for three days

But in March this year Christopher received a phone call to say that a kidney match had been found.

He said when he told Lily the news "she thought she was dreaming".

"I was really shocked because I didn't think it would take such a short amount of time," Lilly said.

Lilly received her kidney from a deceased donor and her dad encouraged people to "just go on the donor register".

After the transplant Lilly said she noticed the "colour coming back to my face and just feeling a lot better in myself and feeling more like myself".

The Canterbury Kidney Campaign Fundraiser, which was set up by Lilly and Christopher, has so far raised more than £4,000 and hopes to raise £30,000 in total for the Wallace and Gromit Grand Appeal - the official Bristol Children's Hospital charity.

If the goal is reached they also want to donate some of the money towards the Wales and West Acute Transport for Children service, which provides inter-hospital transport for children in the South West of England.