AN Alton teenager’s artwork has been chosen to help promote a cause that is close to his heart.

Max Goodwyn, who underwent a heart transplant in May 2013, designed a poster to promote organ donation as part of an art and design course he was taking at Alton College.

It has since been picked up by NHS Blood and Transplant and is being used in a nationwide campaign encouraging people to sign up to the organ donor register.

“It’s really exciting,” said Max. “I might not be around today if somebody had not donated their organs and I’m really happy to be helping to raise awareness of this issue. It means so much to me because it’s a subject that I’m passionate about. I’m really happy that my artwork is hopefully doing some good.”

Max, who is 19 and lives in West Worldham, was born with an enlarged heart that was unable to pump blood around his body effectively.

It was thought that he would not require a transplant for several years, but a bout of flu caused complications, leaving him in desperate need of a new heart.

He was on the transplant list for several weeks before a match was found, but the operation was a success and he is now able to lead a fairly normal life.

Max, who was treated by Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in the weeks leading up to his transplant, added: “I have check-ups every six weeks, but things are going really well.”

He said: “I’m just so grateful to all of the doctors, nurses and other staff who looked after me when I was unwell, but I’ll never forget the donor either.

“Without this person and their family’s consent, I might not be here to tell the tale.”