An inspirational nine-year-old from Bentley has made a poignant plea to politicians and decision makers in Westminster for youngsters needing a kidney transplant.

Isabelle Cavanough’s recent meeting at the Houses of Parliament was set up by Alton kidney patient support charity Kidney Care UK and representatives from NHS Blood and Transplant.

They invited patients, MPs, ministers and policy makers to commit to reducing the number of people waiting for an organ transplant in the UK.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the organ donor card’s introduction but the waiting list is the longest it’s been for a decade.

Eight out of ten people on the transplant waiting list are in need of a kidney transplant while 192 are currently waiting for the life-changing phonecall in Hampshire.

Isabelle said: “I wanted to represent all those children whose lives are on hold as they wait for a life-saving organ donation.

“We can’t travel or participate in activities like many of our friends. Many of us depend on machines, like my dialysis machine, to keep us alive.

“I’m here for all those who are too poorly to make the journey to London today. Please register as an organ donor and make sure your loved ones know your wishes.

“Or even consider a living kidney donation. It would truly be the gift of life to someone like me.”

Fiona Loud, policy director at Kidney Care UK, added: “We’re delighted that Isabelle and her mother Elise were able to join us at Westminster to talk about what it’s like as a child to wait for a kidney transplant.

“Only one per cent of people die in a way that enables organ donation to take place, meaning that you are more likely to need a transplant than you are to be an organ donor.”