There are nearly 7,300 people in the UK waiting for an organ transplant.

But any one of us could end up on that list – as Paula Cowley can attest.

Back in March 2008, the retired teacher and school counsellor was in good health and had no reason to expect that would change.

By the end of the month, she had contracted a rare virus known as Goodpasture Syndrome and two weeks later she had suffered chronic kidney failure.

Mrs Cowley, who lives in Chestnut Avenue, Oulton Broad, was facing a lifetime on dialysis without a kidney transplant and joined the NHS waiting list.

She underwent four hours of dialysis three times per week at James Paget University Hospital, took mineral supplements and was only allowed to consume 500ml of water each day until she received a new kidney at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge in January 2011.

To raise awareness of organ donation, Mrs Cowley has signed up to the Transplant Choir and will be performing alongside singers Aled Jones and Matt Cardle at a concert on Saturday. The award-winning Wessex Male Choir will also be appearing at the Donate Life Concert at Sheffield City Hall, which has been arranged to mark National Transplant Week, which starts today. Mrs Cowley, 68, said her illness had shown her the importance of organ donation.

'I was ill for two weeks and the doctors decided I'd need to go to hospital,' she said.

'They didn't know what was wrong. My kidney failed overnight, I was rushed to the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital and was on dialysis by the afternoon. I hadn't had kindey problems before and had never really had anything wrong with me.'

Mrs Cowley will sing five songs with the Transplant Choir, which is made up of donors, people who have undergone transplants, and those awaiting operations. She sings alto and has been a member of local choirs, including the community choir at the Seagull Theatre in Pakefield and the Rock Choir in Beccles.

The mother of two is rehearsing at home using downloaded music and will practise for the first time with the rest of the choir at 10am on Saturday before the concert is held in the afternoon. She said: 'I enjoy singing and thought it would be great to take part even though it is a long way away. It's is a good idea to raise awareness of organ donation. It has been so helpful to me and has given me a new life almost.

'I don't consider myself ill. I have to have check-ups and take medication but feel very healthy now. I wasn't a donor before because I'd never thought about it but I am now. I've signed up to donate anything they can use.'

Mrs Cowley said she felt very lucky to have received a successful transplant and said she had experienced excellent care throughout.

Above all, she was grateful to the donor and their family, who gave their consent for the organs to be used.

She added: 'One of the things the campaign is trying to highlight is that it is very important that people make their family aware if they want to donate. The medical staff won't do it if the family is upset and won't go along with it.'

More than 263 people in East Anglia have donated their organs over the last two years. Mrs Cowley said about 90 people underwent dialysis at James Paget University Hospital every week and more did it at home.

To find out more about National Transplant Week and organ donation, visit www.transplantweek.co.uk