A MAYOR who donated one of his kidneys to his wife says both are recovering well after the operation.

Chris and Rachael Hogg, both went under the knife at the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle last week.

Mr Hogg, 45, from Chester-le-Street, County Durham, who is the Mayor of Kendal, has returned to their Lake District home, while his 47-year-old wife, from Whickham, continues to recuperate in hospital.

She first had a transplant about 25 years ago after suffering kidney failure when she contracted a virus while on holiday in Italy.

When she realised she would need another one it turned out her husband was a suitable donor with same blood type, O+.

Mr Hogg, who is a cabinet member of South Lakeland District Council, said: “It has been an interesting experience for so many different reasons.

“I have not been in hospital for a long time and it has been an insight seeing what a great job the doctors and nurses do.”

Mrs Hogg, a business support manager for the Mental Health Care Group in Cumbria, is also a tennis and volleyball and tennis champion at the British Transplant Games.

Mr Hogg said: “The kidney has worked great. It worked straight away. Her body has accepted my kidney. She has come through with flying colours.

“I saw her on the Friday, but I cannot see her for a while now because I have picked up a bug. If she got that she would be in massive trouble.”

The couple, who have a 16-year-old son, Kain, are running a campaign to get 1,000 people in Kendal to sign the organ donor register and to become the country’s first organ donor town.

Mr Hogg said: “People have said some really kind things and that is great, but I would feel as though I have really achieved something if this encourages more people to sign up to become donors.

“Obviously, I have helped my immediate family, and anyone would do that, but if other people are inspired to sign up then I can look back and see that it has made a difference then it will feel even more worthwhile.”

To find out more email kendalorgandonortown@gmail.com and to become an organ donor log on to: www.organdonation.nhs.uk