Raymond donated one of his own healthy kidneys to help save his wife.

“We’re happy to give our backing to this year’s campaign,” said Carol.

The couple think it’s important for more people to carry donor cards in case of accident, and are also keen to encourage more to give blood.

The number on the waiting list for organ donation in Tayside has increased, according to figures released by Health Minister Andy Kerr.

It’s a situation being played out across Scotland, with 754 awaiting a transplant, up 67 on the previous 12 months.

There are 58 in Tayside on the waiting list, up from 51 in 2005 and 47 in 2004.

Carol, now 57, was a 13-year-old pupil at Stobswell School in Dundee, and a regular at her local swimming baths, when she caught a kidney infection from swimming.

Her legs began to swell up and a hospital biopsy confirmed kidney damage.

She was told she could never go swimming again and would have to have a salt-free diet for the rest of her life.

In 1990, when she noticed she was getting more and more tired, it was confirmed her kidneys were down to 20% working capacity, and she was forced to give up work.

Two-and-a-half years ago, when regular medical checks revealed her kidney function had dropped to 11%, she was put on dialysis.

But her condition continued to deteriorate and it was decided her priority should be finding a kidney donor.

“I got put on the list two-and-a-half years ago, but my husband offered to donate one of his right away,” said Carol.

“It took 16 months for the tests to be done to see if we would be compatible.”

The couple were admitted to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary on June 21.

“I’m getting better every day, and already my life has been transformed,” said Carol.

“Remarkably I’ve actually now got three kidneys, the new one and two shrivelled ones, while Raymond only has one.”

Raymond said, “I don’t notice any difference in the way I feel, other than a small ache from the operation itself. But I’m glad to have been able to help.”

Mr Kerr said this year’s organ donation campaign will be launched soon and includes advertising and opportunities in shopping centres for the public to respond.

The length of time a person has to wait for a transplant depends on a suitable organ donor becoming available.

Several hundred people from Tayside and Fife pledged the gift of life before going on holiday by joining the NHS Organ Donor Register.

UK Transplant figures show that, in the last year, 788 people from the two regions joined the register using organ donor leaflets enclosed with their new passports and European Health Insurance Cards.

Tayside boasts the highest percentage of potential lifesavers in Scotland, with more than one in two people in Dundee alone carrying a donor card.

There were 2795 in the UK who received a life-saving or life-enhancing organ transplant in 2005/06. But almost 500 died waiting for a transplant.

Currently, more than 8000 people need an organ transplant.