Balloons for 37 extra years of my life.

TEESSIDE'S record-breaking kidney transplant patient Pedro Gutierrez joined forces with the Mayor of Stockton to celebrate a special day.

The pair released 37 balloons outside Stockton Town Hall to mark the 37th anniversary of Pedro's life-saving transplant operation.

The anniversary coincided with the fourth annual World Kidney Day - to raise awareness of the constant need for donors.

Every year, 63-year-old Stockton grandad Pedro works to promote the campaign - and there is no better example of how a transplant can transform someone's life.

Before receiving a kidney from his late father in 1972, Pedro was given just four years to live. Thirty seven years on, he is one of the longest-surviving kidney transplant patients in the region.

"I have outlived most of the doctors who operated on me at Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary," he said.

Since then, the Spanish-born sportsman has won a string of gold medals for Britain in the Transplant Olympics. He also represented Teesside in the British Games. In July he will compete again.

The Mayor of Stockton, Councillor John Fletcher, said Pedro was "an inspirational character".

He and wife Councillor Suzanne Fletcher, have had donor cards for decades.

Suzanne said: "We have a friend who received a new kidney just before Christmas last year. She was so poorly before and now she's just wonderful."

For campaign details visit www.worldkidneyday.org

CAPTION(S):

JOY: Pedro in 1993, 21 years after his op; CELEBRATION: Pedro Gutierrez, below left with Mayor John Fletcher, and how we have followed his record-breaking story Picture by PETER BENN