A BRAVE Wirral teenager who underwent a life-saving liver transplant lost his sister to the inherited liver condition as she waited for a donor organ.

But now 18-year-old Matthew Dodd is teaming up with the Children's Liver Disease Foundation (CLDF), to urge people to join the organ donor register and help sufferers.

The move came in National Transplant Week, which ran until July 14.

CLDF is the only organisation in the UK dedicated to fighting childhood liver disease, and has offered information and support to the family since Matthew was first diagnosed.

And the Upton teen, who plans to study pharmacy at Liverpool's John Moores University said: "I was only five when I had the transplant so I can't really remember the operation.

"I do of course think of the donor family that have enabled me to lead such a full and active life because of their brave decision.

"I took part in the World Transplant Games in Canada in 2005 and this really helped show me how much I had achieved.

"However I also know all too well that not all children are so lucky".

Shortly after Matthew was born, he developed jaundice and failed to thrive.

Tests showed he had an unknown condition, which was irreversibly damaging his liver.

Matthew's sister Rebecca, who was born three years later, also inherited the condition.

Their parents Jane and Michael were left devastated by the news that both their children would need liver transplants.

But Matthew's was a success and allowed him to start living his life to the full.

Sadly Rebecca, who had been on the waiting list for five months, died when her condition worsened.

Catherine Arkley, chief executive of Children's Liver Disease Foundation, said: "Two children are diagnosed with a life threatening and incurable liver disease every day in the UK, and many of these children go on to require a liver transplant.

People can sign up to the organ donor register via CLDF's website at www.childliverdisease.org.