JOEL Malyon died a year ago. He was only seven, but during his short life Joel was more inspirational than most of could ever hope to be.

Just take the request he made for his sixth birthday; don’t buy any presents, but instead send donations to the Leeds Children’s Transplant Team.

Doesn’t that make you choke with emotion? For Joel it was about paying his dues because he had received a kidney replacement at the unit.

For the rest of us who read about his request in the paper it was as humbling a story as we’d ever read.

Now, to mark the first anniversary of Joel’s death, his mum Polly is throwing a black-tie dinner and dance, which she hopes will help reach her fundraising target of £10,000 to be divided between the children’s transplant team and the paediatric renal ward at Leeds General Infirmary.

Buying a ticket for this event would be a wonderful way to make up for that humbling feeling at learning of Joel’s selfless birthday request. And what a fantastic cause to support.

Let’s hope that’s enough to ensure the event sells out quickly.