A COURAGEOUS man who received a life-saving kidney transplant is now battling to give his dad strength after he was diagnosed with secondary cancer.

Dan Jewell, 31, received a kidney transplant 11 years ago from an anonymous donor and battled for life when his body began rejecting the organ.

Despite the odds and even battling septicaemia he survived and set up charity Kidney Partners, since raising more than £50,000 to raise awareness of organ donation and to help others.

But now it is his dad Steve who needs support after he was told he has bone cancer following a prostate cancer diagnosis.

Together the family from Poole are defiantly raising awareness of the disease and organ donation – and are inviting everyone to a special fundraising event in aid of Prostate Cancer UK.

Steve, 62, said: “I have written several letters to the donor’s family telling them how their selfless actions son saved my boy. His life was not in vain. He saved five lives. That is something very incredible and it’s thanks to them I have my son by my side to fight this battle.”

Dan was diagnosed with Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis, a scarring of the kidneys, which led to kidney failure when he was a teenager.

Blood tests showed an abnormality and within 24 hours he was rushed to Dorset County Hospital. He was told that he would require dialysis, then just days before the procedure was due to start, a kidney was found for him, which enabled the surgery to take place.

Initially his body rejected the kidney and he fought for his life but now he is living a normal healthy life and will marry fiancee Laura next year.

However the family’s life was turned upside down again when Steve, a plumber, was diagnosed with prostate cancer four years ago following his third hip replacement.

However despite an operation and treatment, a scan revealed the cancer was also in his bones.

Dad-of-two Steve said: “Hearing it will significantly reduce my life, that has been hard to swallow and when I got that through in black and white, it really hit me.

“I have the odd moment where I’m upset but my boy, he’s my mentor.

“What my son has been through really hits home. He nearly died. He is my hero.”

Dan added: “I tell you to man up! We are Jewells and we will fight through it and become stronger.

“Dad is strong, he’s a fighter. He’s my hero too.

“When you go through what our family has been through together, it really puts everything in perspective.

“Family is everything to me. It means the world.”

Steve added: “We want to tell anyone and everyone about organ donation and about prostate cancer too. It can save lives.”

Kidney Partners annual charity golf day will raise money for Prostate Cancer UK on Wednesday, May 31 at Dudsbury Golf Club, Christchurch Road, Bournemouth.

It costs £60 per golfer, which includes a bacon roll, 18 holes of golf, hot buffet, live music and DJ until 11.30pm. Evening tickets from 7.30pm cost £15.

For more information contact Dan on 07545895187 or email kidneypartners@outlook.com