AN Alvechurch woman and her son have taken part in a charity challenge to raise funds and awareness for Kidney Research UK, on the fourth anniversary of when she donated a kidney to him.

Sharon Hill and son Liam, along with several family members, took part in Kidney Research UK’s London Bridges Walk on Sunday, July 14, in the blistering heat.

Mrs Hill gave a kidney to son Liam, now 21, back in 2008, when he was 17.

When she was pregant with Liam, Mrs Hill was told one of his kidneys was not working and it was removed when he was six.

She later agreed to register him with a research programme which analyses people living with just one kidney. Had it not been for her registering him, they would not have subsequently found out that his one remaining kidney was not functioning properly.

In October 2008, the situation deteriorated and Mr Hill was told he would probably have another six months before a transplant was almost certainly needed. When she found out she was a match, Mrs Hill immediately donated a kidney to her son.

Following their successful London Bridges Walk, Mrs Hill said: “We completed our walk for Kidney Research UK on what was probably one of the hottest days of the year.

“It was a truly fantastic day, a brilliant atmosphere and we managed to complete the walk in just under three hours.

“We’d like to say thank you to everyone who supported us. As a team we have raised over £1,200, with donations still coming in, so we are so delighted to have raised so much for a wonderful charity.”

For more details about Kidney Research UK, visit www.kidneyresearchuk.org.