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MY STORY...

My name is Cheryl Parker. I am a 40 year old mother of three girls, and I work  as a Deputy Home Care Manager in a residential home,for children and adults who have epilepsy.  Here is my brief story  ......

In 2006, my sister - who now lives in Los Angeles - was a healthy 43 year old woman, running her own business, raising two teenage daughters, and going through a difficult divorce.

After a week of feeling very unwell, she decided to visit the doctor. After visiting her doctor, she was sent to hospital.  Doctors there told her that she was actually experiencing complete renal failure.  She needed a blood transfusion immediately, followed by dialysis treatment.

Thereafter, the only treatment available to her was continuous dialysis, 3 times a week - totalling 9 hours, or to be offered a kidney transplant(This entails a waiting list of a minimum 7 years)

In 2007, I offered to become a donor for my sister, knowing that we would both need to be match-tested.  This proved a little difficult, getting blood samples from the UK to the States, but we eventually got there!!

For my sister, the end of her dialysis treatment came in August 2007, when I travelled to Los Angeles, and the successful transplant took place at the UCLA transplant clinic.

I'm pleased to say, that today she leads her life free from dialysis treatment.  She is also running fund-raisers now on behalf of kidney research.

Last year, I ran my first London Marathon, and this year, it means so much to be able to run once again, and raise money for such a worthy cause.

Kidney Research UK holds a special place in my family's heart, and has made me realise how important it is that we all support these needy charities, as none of us know what the future holds for us or our families.

So, now that you know my story, please help me to make a difference to so many people's lives.    sponsor me today!