WIVES are five times more likely than men to donate a kidney to their partner than vice versa, researchers have found. Evidence suggests they are simply less selfish and have a desire to help their families to survive, according to medical experts.

The study, by the International Society of Nephrology and the International Federation of Kidney Foundations, was published in the journal Visceral Medicine.

It comes as two Swindonians prepare to take on mammoth challenges to raise awareness and funds for organ donation. They include a businesswoman who has set herself the goal of completing the borough’s half marathon despite the likelihood she will need a transplant to replace her last remaining kidney. Jasie Rai, 45, has has set herself the colossal goal of completing the 13.1 miles on September 9. She has yet to run more than seven miles but wants to raise funds and awareness in aid of ‘non-directed’ donation, where a healthy living person comes to the aid of someone in need of a transplant.

She plans to donate proceeds to the Give a Kidney – One’s Enough charity and Wiltshire Air Ambulance. Her remaining kidney only functions at 17% and it is highly likely she will need a transplant in future. Jasie, from West Swindon, will take on the challenge during Organ Donation Week.

Endurance cyclist Stephen Rodgers is also out to raise awareness of organ donation as he takes on the world’s biggest timed cycle race in South Africa.

The Chiseldon resident, 55, will tackle the 109-mile route around Cape Town and the surrounding coast on Sunday. Stephen once struggled to walk up the stairs following a kidney transplant and is raising funds for people needing transplants at a centre in Oxford used by patients in the Swindon and Wiltshire area.

The car business owner had a life-saving transplant in 2010 thanks to a living aunt in West Swindon who donated the organ.

The research, which was published on Thursday to mark World Kidney Day, also stated that women are more likely to suffer the most serious stages of chronic kidney disease.

*To support Jasie please visit https://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/jasierai1.

*To support Stephen visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/stephen-rogers7