TRANSPLANT patients and relatives of organ donors held a special ceremony in Huddersfield.

Thirty people gathered in St George’s Square at midday yesterday to release balloons into the air to remember those who made life-saving donations.

The event was organised to mark National Transplant Week.

Marlene Coates, 67, took part in the balloon release.

The Flockton woman’s life was turned around when she received a new kidney in 2005.

Mrs Coates suffered from the inherited condition polycystic kidney disease.

“I was on dialysis for two-and-a-half years. It restricts your diet and your movements,” she said.

“Having a transplant has made a tremendous difference to my life. I’m pretty much back to 100% now, I can do almost anything, I can go walking or do the gardening.”

Mrs Coates had the transplant at St James’s Hospital in Leeds six years ago.

“All I know about my donor is that he was man from Newcastle,” she said.

“I’ve written to his family twice through the organ donation co-ordinator to thank them.

“I feel so grateful to that man for the wonderful thing he did for me. I don’t think you can ever express enough thanks for the gift you’ve been given.”

Mrs Coates and her husband David, 73, took part in yesterday’s balloon launch as part of National Transplant Week.

The couple want to keep the issue of organ donation in the public eye.