A Worcester Park man who suffers from a rare genetic disorder is urging people to make joining the Organ Donation Register their New Year’s resolution.

Hemong Patel, 44, was diagnosed with Alport's Syndrome while at college. The condition causes gradual scarring of the kidneys resulting in eventual kidney failure.

Mr Patel is of Indian descent and hospitals struggle to find matching donor organs because less people from the Asian community have signed up to be on the donation register.

Mr Patel said: "I think that is a generational thing at the moment. It’s not something my parents, for example, ever thought of doing but it is extremely important.

"When I’ve asked people, about 90 per cent agree with the idea of organ donation but only around 20 per cent of people have actually signed up.

"If we could get everyone who agrees with donation to register in the New Year we would be in a much better position."

When he was 20 Mr Patel was rushed to hospital after his whole body filled with fluid and he has now been receiving dialysis on and off for over half of his life.

A transplant in 1995 allowed Mr Patel to start working as a website designer however an aortic aneurysm in 2006 meant he was again in need of a new kidney.

Despite receiving dialysis three times a week Mr Patel has a fulltime job as a digital marketing specialist and is also working on an MA in social media.

Mr Patel remains positive about his treatment and his hope of getting another transplant.

He said: "If all this had happened to me now I think I would have reacted very differently but because I’ve been dealing with my condition for such a long time I just sort of get on with it.

"Don’t get me wrong dialysis is difficult - even more so when you are young and everyone in your unit is older than you.

"However I believe I have coped well. I have always taken the view that dialysis is something I do three times a week for a few hours, it's not the end of the world and many people around the world are much worse off than me.

"I am now just waiting for a transplant, it's been five years and the wait continues."

About 31 per cent of Kingston residents are on the Organ Donor Register, five per cent more than the London average, however those waiting for transplants still believe this is too low.

Sally Johnson, NHS Blood and Transplant's director of organ donation and transplantation, said: "I urge people in Surrey and London to make joining the Organ Donor Register one of their New Year's resolutions.

"Without organ donors there can be no transplantation. But to help the 10,000 people in the UK currently in need of a transplant, it is vital the number of families agreeing to donation taking place increases.

Mr Patel said: "Most people can sign up through their driving licence these days or it is a simple form online.

"I hope for the New Year people just take a few moments to register themselves."

To join the NHS Organ Donor Register, visit www.organdonation.nhs.uk, call 0300 123 23 23 or text SAVE to 62323.