A Fife man who is to donate a kidney to a stranger has appealed to others to consider doing the same.
Bill Mair, 56, is preparing to undergo surgery to give one of his two healthy kidneys to someone in need of a transplant.
He was inspired to make what is termed the “exceptional gift” by a member of staff at his local pub who had done so a few years ago.
He believes more people would do the same if they knew they could.
Bill, of Dysart, may never know who receives his kidney but said he was moved by hearing a young mother with her baby tell how she was able to start a family thanks to her transplant.
He said: “I’ve been on the register for as long as I can remember to donate organs after my death and I donate blood, although not as regularly as I should.
“But I had no idea it was possible to apply to donate a kidney to a stranger during my lifetime.
“It was the barmaid at a local pub who mentioned it to me one day and the penny dropped right away.
“People need a kidney. I’ve got two and I only need one.
“I’m convinced that the only difference between me and hundreds of potentially eligible donors who have not come forward is that I have heard about this opportunity and they haven’t.
“In fact, a couple of friends have been in touch already to say they’re interested since I started talking about it.”
Although altruistic kidney donation has been permitted since 2006, fewer than 100 were made in Scotland last year.
According to Give a Kidney Scotland, more than 5,000 people in the UK desperately need a transplant and around 250 people die waiting each year.
Bill, a semi-retired proofreader, hopes to raise awareness so more people will consider giving an organ so lives can be saved and people can come off dialysis.
Potential donors undergo full physiological and mental health checks over several months to ensure they are suitable and can change their mind at any time, right up until the anaesthetic is administered.
Over the last year Bill has made several visits to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary for compatibility checks and will donate his kidney in a procedure there in September.
He said: “I don’t know who will receive my kidney and I never will, unless the recipient makes a great effort to track me down.”
Most living donors say they want to give something back.
Bill said: “I’ve led an average life and had average luck. I’m not rolling in surplus cash. I don’t really have much to give back.
“One thing I do have in excess though is kidneys. I’ve got two and only need one. Some people rely or are about to rely on dialysis because they don’t have even one fully functioning kidney.”
To find out more visit www.organdonationscotland.org/tell-me-about-living-donation.
