Just seven months after deciding to lose weight, Sam Cadwallader suddenly had an even more powerful motivation to shed a few pounds - her husband needed a new kidney.

Paul was diagnosed with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), a disease that involves scarring of blood vessels in the kidneys, in 2010 and his condition continued to deteriorate.

"He needed a donor," Sam said.

"He wasn’t able to go up and down the stairs without being out of breath, he was really deteriorating.

"So I offered to be tested to see if I was a match for him."

The mother-of-four, from Minster, was told she was a match but needed to lose 5st to qualify.

"I’d joined a Slimming World group at Friendship House in Minster on January 2, 2017, I was nearly 19st and I just got fed up with going to bed every night crying, feeling sorry for myself because I wasn’t happy with how big I was getting.

"I really lacked in confidence and never thought I’d be able to lose weight, but I lost six pounds in the first week.”

Childminder Sam, 35, added: "In August 2017, Paul’s kidney function started to decline rapidly and his doctors started to talk about a transplant.

"From then, I worked so hard to lose the weight each week to be able to save Paul.

"My weight-loss journey became about trying to help him.

"It was very emotional, I couldn’t afford to have a gain as the surgeon could have said no to me being the donor.

"Sam had tests and scans in September and, by March 19 last year, managed to lose 5st 1.5lb.

Nine days later, the couple of 17 years had the operation at Guy’s Hospital, London.

Sam said: "Paul’s doing amazing now and, even though I’ve only got one kidney, I can still do everything I was doing before.

"I just love the fact Paul can now do everything he wants.

"He’s got his life back, the children have got their dad back and I’ve got my husband back - and I’ve done that for him."

Sam rejoined the Slimming World group in April and got an award in September for losing 6st.

She added: "Joining the group’s been the best thing I’ve ever done. It’s changed my life, and Paul’s. If I’d never joined Slimming World, I would never have lost the weight and I wouldn’t have been able to help Paul."