THE friend of a young York student who is fighting for his life almost four years after undergoing a lung transplant has appealed to more people to sign the organ donor register.

Matthew Stein, 20, needed a transplant in March 2008 due to suffering a severe case of pneumonia, but after having the operation, his body began to reject the organs and his lung function dramatically reduced towards the end of last year.

After spending all of the Christmas holidays in hospital, Matthew realised he would not be able to return to his computer science studies at the University of York this year.

He is currently receiving hospital treatment and has been undergoing radiotherapy, but although his condition has drastically reduced his life expectancy, he says the transplant had given him “five years I otherwise would not have had”.

In order to cheer up and support his friend, fellow student Adam Bennett organised an organ donor day at Derwent College, where they are both in the second year of their studies, and is campaigning for more people to sign up to the organ donor register to help people like Matthew.

“I felt it would be a good thing to do to boost Matt’s morale after his health deteriorated towards the end of the first term of this year,” said 19-year-old biochemistry student Adam, one of Matthew’s housemates in Badger Hill.

“Organ donation is so important because it saves lives, but awareness of it needs to be raised. Sometimes it’s only when you know somebody who has had a transplant that you realise how vital it is.

“Everybody at the college has been really supportive, and we just want as many people as possible to sign up to the register.”

Matthew said he had come to terms with how his life has changed since his illness and the transplant, saying: “I’m endlessly grateful to Adam for running the donor drive and so thankful to anybody who has taken the time to sign up.

“Obviously, there are other world issues apart from organ donation, but it’s just so simple to sign a register and possibly make a difference to so many people’s lives.”

To sign up to the organ donor register, visit uktransplant.org.uk