FOR Golcar man Nigel Stagg, emotions will be running high when he takes part in the Great North Run later this year.

As he joins thousands of people on the 12-mile course, he will run for a charity that helped save his wife Tanya's life. Tanya, 30, suffered from renal failure, and waited three years to get her life-saving kidney transplant.

Now as a thank-you to one of the charities that makes research into the disease possible, Nigel, 32, is running for Kidney Research UK.

He said: "It is amazing how much my wife has changed both physically and mentally in such a short time.

"We can finally move on and look to the future. This could not have happened, not only for our family but for many others with renal failure, if it was not for those unsung heroes who agreed to the organ donation of a loved one.

"This also could not have happened if it was not for the research into kidney failure and transplantation that charities such as Kidney Research UK do. These charities rely on our donations."

Tanya was diagnosed with renal failure in 1997, after she collapsed at work.

Before her transplant five weeks ago, Tanya was on dialysis three times a week. She said: "I was on the transplant waiting list for three years - which is quite short really as some people have to wait as long as 15 years.

"I spent only five days in hospital, which surprised the staff as transplant patients normally stay from a week to a couple of months.

"I think kidney failure is something a lot of people don't understand - they don't realise that it affects so many parts of your body, such as your joints and skin condition.

"And there's just no quality of life when you're on dialysis as you're hooked up to a machine all the time. It really stressed me out.

"It was hard, but if I had not been on dialysis I would be dead. I know people who have given up dialysis have died.

"I wish more people would think of donating their organs, as there are so many people on dialysis because they do not have the option."

Tanya says the best news she has had since her transplant is that once she has fully healed next year, she will be able to have something she has always wanted - a child.

She said: "I have wanted one for ages, since before I went on dialysis. So to be told we can have one next year is absolutely great."

She says Nigel has been her tower of strength throughout her ordeal, alongside her mum Jenny and step-dad Garry.

She said: "Nigel has been great and really supportive, and took time off while I was in hospital.

"He has been kept really busy with all the shopping, housework, his work, and training for the Great North Run - he's certainly getting plenty of excercise, and so is the dog!"

Nigel is a Rehabilitation Conditioner for Wakefield Wildcats, looking after the fitness of the players, and runs Pilates classes on an evening at Fitness First in Huddersfield.

He said: "I have had some preparation with doing the Great Manchester Run. I did pretty well in that.

"When I did that run, Tanya was in hospital, and I was interviewed by the BBC. But she missed it because the television wasn't working!

"The Great North Run will be an emotional one, and not just for the reason I am running. I will be running with a close friend whose husband died recently - she is running for Kirkwood Hospice."