For 32 years Kathleen Hart has been living on borrowed time.

The 62-year-old mother, believes she owes her life to the person who donated their kidney to her 32 years ago.

She has seen her son Robert grow up and have a family of his own.

And she has been able to holiday free of care with her husband Ken.

Kathleen is one of 150 transplantees invited to a gala dinner at London's Dorchester Hotel on Sunday, September 10, to celebrate 25 years since their life-changing surgery.

She said: "Since the transplantation I have been able to do simple things like go on holiday.

"I've seen my son grow up and I have two beautiful grandchildren, but most importantly I've learned to take each day as it comes and enjoy life.

"Before the operation it was simply existence - I wasn't living properly."

Kathleen, of Sutton near Keighley, became ill when she was 30 with a two-and-half-year-old toddler to look after.

After tests at St James's Hospital in Leeds, she was put on a dialysis machine - an ordeal she underwent every other day for more than four years, before a donor was found.

During that time, she was supported by Ken - now a councillor on Craven Council - who trained to operate the dialysis machine.

"I remember the day they telephoned to say there was a kidney - it was Friday, December 13, 1973," said Kathleen.

"I was lucky, because when the tests were done I was found to be compatible.

"I was frightened and Ken said I looked terrified when I went for the surgery. But I knew I had to go through with it and take the chance in order to lead a normal life."

The Celebration of Life dinner is the first UK event held to celebrate the success of the patients themselves and the additional years they have enjoyed

It is the brainchild of leading UK Consultant Transplant and Vascular Surgeon, Ali Bakran and follows the BBC's DoNation series highlighting organ donation in the UK.

A spokesman for the event said nine out of ten people in the UK say they support organ donation, yet only two in ten have taken action and put their names on the NHS Organ Donor Register. At the same time, the UK has a critical shortage of organ donors

The dinner is supported by UK Transplant and The National Kidney Research Fund .

Currently there are over 5,648 people in the UK awaiting a kidney transplant, but because of the huge shortages of organ donors each year only one in four people get a transplant.

He urged people to join the Organ Donor Register by calling the Organ Donor line on 0845 6060400, visit www.uk transplant.org.uk or get a leaflet from a health centre.