This is a special 'Thank you'. My name is Brad I am 47 years old and when I was 6 years old I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes.

I had a normal life with a loving family and then my wife Lorae and I went to live in Batemans Bay on the south coast of NSW.

In the mid 1990s the effects of Type 1 Diabetes started affecting my health. I was diagnosed as legally blind and a month later commenced dialysis.

In 2001 I had my right big toe amputated. Then my left big toe was amputated and following a slight stroke my left leg was amputated at Canberra Hospital.

One day after my regular dialysis treatment I had a phone call. There was a Kidney-Pancreas waiting for me at Westmead Hospital Sydney, donated by a family who knew the wishes of their loved one.

After 32 days at Westmead Hospital I returned home return to a normal life and I have been able to watch my family grow. I will never ever forget the gift that saved my life from a family I shall never meet, but love and respect as my own.

However, due to the damage caused by Type 1 diabetes my right foot and then leg was amputated below knee.

In August 2007 we established the Eurobodalla Renal Support Group and Organ Donor Awareness and Education. We are dedicated to providing community awareness about Kidney health, Organ Donation and Transplantation on the NSW South East. We also host community events and meet regularly at 'get-together' lunches.

Without strong support and love from my family and a wonderful and generous donor family somewhere in Australia who had the very important talk about organ donation, I would not be alive today. There is just one thing left to say. 'Thank you'.