Kidney-gift Liz is miles better

Liz Whitworth (left) ran a 10-mile race less than a year after donating a kidney to Mark Holden. Liz is a lifetime friend of Mark’s wife Ruth

A woman who gave her best friend’s husband a kidney is up and running again - 10 miles, to be exact!

Liz Whitworth (46), a member of Oldham and Royton Harriers athletics club recently ran 10 miles in 94 minutes in her first competitive race since donating a lifesaving kidney to Mark Holden, husband of her lifelong friend Ruth, less than a year ago.

Both recovered well and Liz is pleased to be back running again.

She said: “The whole recovery process has just made me realise how lucky I am; it drove me to get back running again. I was quite a bit slower than I used to be but that’s understandable — I’m just more focused on improving now.”

Liz, a primary school business manager, is already planning ahead for future events. She intends doing a half marathon this year.

She said: “I was quite a bit slower than I used to be but that’s understandable — I’m just more focused on improving now.”

Liz has encouraged others to think about donating a kidney to someone in need by contacting the NHS Organ Donor Register.