Warehouse worker and charity fundraiser John Wilkins is to donate one of his kidneys to his brother.

John Wilkins

Mr Wilkins, 56, of St Nicholas Road, Littlemore, Oxford, has already helped raise more than £16,000 for the bone marrow and haematology ward 5E at the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, after his son Steven died from non-Hodgkins lymphoma four years ago.

John Wilkins' brother, Brian, 43, of Humber Close, Wantage, who is registered as disabled suffers from a muscle-wasting disease and has had both his kidneys removed.

Brian has to undergo regular dialysis at the Churchill Hospital, Oxford. But doctors are now planning a kidney transplant in July thanks to a perfect match provided by his older brother.

As an employee at the Asda depot, in Didcot, John was among 20 winners of the company's Golden Bear Awards for work in the community -- and the first individual recipient of the award from one of Asda's 18 depots.

"The award came as a complete surprise," said John. "When I was handed the letter telling me of the award, I thought at first it might be a complaint about my work."

Instead it was an invitation to attend the glittering Asda Foundation presentations ceremony when he was accompanied by Didcot colleague Ian Miller who nominated him.

Mr Miller said: "While staff at Didcot do more for the community than any other Asda depot, we think John is an exceptional person because of the amount of money he raises for charity and by offering a kidney to his brother.

"His efforts have also helped Didcot win Asda's Depot of the Community certificate for outstanding charity fundraising."

John Wilkins and his family -- including wife Angela and sons, Gary who also works at Asda, Mark and Richard -- have raised £10,000 for the JR, where Steven died two days after his 21st birthday.

"The care and nursing Steven received on ward 5E was fantastic," said Mr Wilkins. "We said after he died that we would dedicate the rest of our lives to raising money for the unit."

Steven was a keen darts player as well as an Oxford United fan, and a major part of the fundraising has been from a biennial darts night at the Golden Ball pub, Littlemore, which was his local. Oxford United's community officer Peter Rhoades-Brown has been involved in organising charity football tournaments to help Mr Wilkins with his fundraising.