Couple to walk for kidney charity after transplant success

Simon and Diane Froggitt from Peterborough thanked Kidney Research UK for its "life-saving" support

A couple hopes to walk for charity next month to thank Kidney Research UK for its "life-saving" support.

Peterborough resident Diane Froggitt was diagnosed aged 15 with polycystic kidney disease (PKD), which can lead to kidney failure.

In 2022, she had a successful transplant after her husband Simon donated one of his kidneys.

Mr Froggitt, who has been married to Diane for 28 years, described it as the "most emotional time".

Mrs Froggitt said: "I was feeling very tired. I was still working full-time but it was a real struggle to get through the day. I had itchy skin and a horrible taste in my mouth."

The pair said it was important for Diane to have a transplant before her kidneys failed to avoid having to go on dialysis.

At the end of August last year, they had their respective operations at Addenbrooke's Hospital and Mrs Froggitt received her husband's kidney.

Mr Froggitt said he did not hesitate as Diane was his "everything".

"Hearing she was OK, brought me to tears," he said.

The Peterborough couple have been married for 28 years

Talking about the operation, Mrs Froggitt said: "It was a bit of a shock. I had wires coming out of my neck and it was so hard to move and I was so reliant on the nurses.

"It was hard at first, trying to go for a walk, shuffling along. It took two to three months before we felt 100%."

A year on since the "life-saving" surgery, Mr and Mrs Froggitt hope to give back to Kidney Research UK, saying the charity has been "very important" to them.

They will take part in the five-mile (8km) Peterborough Cathedral Winter walk on 3 December.

"For me it's a personal thing, my gratitude to the surgeons, nurses and everybody that looked after us," Mr Froggitt said.

The Peterborough Cathedral Winter Walk will take place on 3 December around the city centre

Marc Shaw, head of community fundraising at Kidney Research UK, said an estimated 73,000 people in Cambridgeshire are living with kidney disease.

"Our Winter Walk is the perfect way to walk all over kidney disease to help lift the burden from families like Simon and Diane's," he said.