Bristol teenager Chris Flossman has been in and out of hospital since he was born, but has not allowed his kidney problems to get in the way of his ambitions.

The Whitehall 13-year-old was born with kidney failure, has had two transplants and has spent a lot of his life on dialysis.

But he is doing well at school, has competed in transplant games and will be the first Bristol boy to represent the UK as a swimmer in the World Transplant Games in Australia next year.

Chris and his family are backing the three-day fundraising drive, in which GWR presenters Bush and Troy are broadcasting live from the Children's Hospital to encourage people to dig deep this Christmas.

The teenager suffered breathing problems when he was born at Southmead Hospital and was taken straight to intensive care unit, where it was discovered he was in total renal failure.

He spent his first eight weeks in the special care baby unit (SCBU) and had a kidney taken out when he was six months old.

He needed lots of medication, and his second kidney worked at just 15 to 20 per cent of its potential function.

But it carried on working until he was about three and a half, when its output dropped to nine per cent and Chris needed peritoneal dialysis.

When he was six he went in for his first kidney transplant.

His mum, Debbie, said: "We didn't think it would ever happen, everything just seemed to go on and on and on."

The first new kidney worked initially, but its function gradually reduced. Chris needed more medication and in 2005 the kidney stopped working.

"Since this transplant Chris has been fairly well and he hasn't had any infections," said Debbie.

"The staff at the Children's Hospital are great, particularly at the renal unit.

"Chris has been going in since he was a baby so a lot of the staff have known him for a long time."

Chris said: "People have been really nice and I've had the same doctor since I went to Southmead where I was originally having my treatment."

He has won several honours for his bravery and continues to keep up with his sports.

Bristol's Big Give is a joint initiative by GWR, the Grand Appeal, University Hospital's Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the site, and aims to inform people about the work of the hospital while raising money.

It is based on work carried out by an American charity, where it has raised millions for hospitals.

For more details call 927 3888 or go to www.bristolsbiggive.org.