A BOURNEMOUTH woman has become the first person in Dorset to donate one of her kidneys for the sake of a complete stranger.

Jenny Dale, of Iford, underwent surgery at Bristol’s Southmead Hospital in February after months of screening to make sure she was mentally and physically fit.

She knows that the organ was given to a man in his twenties who is recovering well and has been able to return to work.

Still recuperating at home, mother of two Jenny is now planning to take part in a sponsored 500km cycle ride from London to Paris in September to raise money for a transplant charity.

She will be accompanied by her sister Wendy Powell, 45, of Bitterne, Southampton, and their nephew Tom Kelly, 17, of Bournemouth.

Altruistic kidney donation – giving up the organ to someone who is neither a friend nor a relative – has only been legal in this country since 2006. Of about 1,000 kidney transplants carried out each year, roughly 800 involve organs donated by friends or relatives and only 40 from altruistic donors.

Jenny, who works for Dorset Police, is hoping others will be inspired to follow her example.

“There are 8,000 people waiting for a kidney transplant and three people a day die waiting for a transplant,” ejs said. “That’s what made me do it.

“Knowing you have transformed or saved someone’s life is amazing. How many people have the opportunity to do that in their lifetime?”

To donate to the sponsored bike ride in aid of Transplant Links, set up too save the lives of people in developing countries who suffer from chronic kidney disease, see justgiving.com/jenny-dale.

l Look out for the full story of Jenny’s donation in next week’s Daily Echo.