A HEART transplant patient has raised thousands of pounds to help people awaiting vital surgery.

Matthew Rumney has overcome the operation that saved his life and set his sights on raising funds for more equipment to help doctors match donors with people who need a transplant.

His first fundraising mission was to race his beloved Bentley Turbo R, which was covered in sticky hearts sponsored by local businesses and friends, around Castle Coombe circuit.

He said: "We are alive and the car is dent free so it was pretty good. I have now raised the £7,000 I aimed for to buy a probe for the hospital which treated me. But more than anything I want to raise awareness and get more donors on the register."

Matthew thought his time was up before receiving the phone call that gave him a new lease of life on New Year’s Eve last year.

The 36-year-old, who grew up in Chipping Sodbury, had said his final farewells to his friends and every night kissed his girlfriend Jane for what could be the last time.

But the midnight call saw him rushed to Birmingham’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital and given a heart transplant after a matching donor was found.

Despite complications and six weeks in a coma, Matthew made a full recovery and has now dedicated much of his time to raising money for charity.

"The man who donated his heart has given me the gift of life, it was literally the difference between life and death," he said.

"I will never be able to thank him but if one other person can benefit the same way I have, everything has to be worth it."

Matthew, whose family run Old Sodbury Builders, is hoping to encourage more people to join the UK’s donor register, visit www.uktransplant.org.uk to join.