A MAN who has had four of his vital organs transplanted and gave away his healthy heart is backing the Mercury's campaign for people to join the organ donor register.

Cystic Fibrosis sufferer Mark Dolby, 49,of Wren Close, Market Deeping, was one of two patients involved in the UK's first "domino" transplant in 1987, aged 26. The complex procedure saw Mr Dolby receive a new heart, lungs and liver. At the same time, his own heart was given to another man, Paul Taylor, from Derby.

Following the operation, Mr Dolby developed Kidney failure and after 14 years of getting progressively worse, he began receiving dialysis treatment. After more than four years of dialysis, his 72-year-old mother and partner of 20 years Christine Gordon were both found to be a match for living donation, so in 2005, Mr Dolby was given Mrs Gordon's kidney.

He said: "If it wasn't for the donor, who gave me the lungs, liver and heart, there is no doubt that I wouldn't be sitting here today. "I'm only here because someone was generous enough to donate their organs and I want people to look at me and see that. I'm only here because someone carried a donor card. "More people should do the same"

He believes the key to increasing the amount of people on the register is for people to make a decision when they're healthy.

"It is definitely something that needs to be discussed before the event" Mr Dolby said.

When he met Mrs Gordon before his first transplant in 1987, he vowed that "when he was better" the couple would go to Rome. Last year they fulfilled that dream.

Before he had the kidney transplant, he was given just six weeks to live but since his operation, Mr Dolby says his life has completely changed for the better, although he is still on medication.

He refuses to put a time on what his life expectancy could be now except to say "I'm 49 and I'm still going"

Mike Bowden, of Main Street, Edmonthorpe, is leading the Rutland Organ Donor Initiative with the aim of increasing the number of people on the organ donor register.

He set it up in memory of his stepson, Richard, who was also a cystic fibrosis sufferer, and died in 2002 aged 19.

His ultimate aim is to increase the population on the register from 24 per cent to 80 per cent.

Editors note: Thanks to the Stamford and Rutland Mercury for allowing us to put this article on the website....and well done Mark and Christine