HE was given the 'gift of life' and now a Padgate dad is doing his bit to say thank you with a gruelling year-long fundraiser.

Chris Cliffe launched his 'Mile a day for Alder Hey' challenge on February 1 and has vowed come rain, shine, Christmas or holidays to pull on his trainers and run a mile in aid of the children's hospital for 365 consecutive days.

The 34-year-old, who found out he needed a life-saving kidney transplant in 1998, was inspired to raise cash for the cause after volunteering at the hospital and seeing what children much younger than him were going through.

He added: "I was 18 when I went through it and that was tough but volunteering on the ward I have seen kids aged three or four on dialysis.

"Despite that they're always really happy and take it in their stride which is quite inspiring."

Chris, who works as an electrician, was first made aware he had a problem when he tried to join the gym at the Village Hotel.

He added: "They told me my blood pressure was through the roof and I should go see my GP.

"I had no idea other than being tired but my dad just thought I was burning the candle at both ends.

"I was sent for a scan and told my kidneys had shrunk and were only working at 10 per cent.

"It was a big shock as I was supposed to be going to Tenerife the following week with a friend and I was told if I had gone I would have definitely had a stroke."

After being put on dialysis and the transplant list, his mum's friend Cath Kennah came to the rescue offering her kidney when no other match could be found.

Chris added: "No words can describe how thankful you are.

"She was never hesitant and always really positive which put my mind at ease."

The talented squash and badminton player has since been selected for the World Transplant Games team to compete in Argentina but has decided to focus his attentions instead on his Alder Hey fundraiser as he could not afford to take his family including wife Bev and son Finnlay, aged seven, to the South American country with him.

Chris, who has previously represented Great Britain in South Africa, added: "I live every day as it comes now and always think I'm lucky to be here, have a family and all that support."

Visit justgiving.com/Chris-cliffe2 to donate and organdonation.nhs.uk for more information.