Tragic Ben draws up his Bucket List

A 28-year-old man who has been given six months to live has drawn up a 'Bucket List' of dreams he wants to fulfil in the time he has left.

Ben Hughes, aged 28, from Harlescott, in Shrewsbury, was born with a congenital heart disease and struggled to lead a 'normal' life.

In 2007 he underwent a successful heart and lung transplant.

Following the operation he lived a normal life but last December he fell ill with flu-like symptoms and in April doctors discovered that Ben's lungs had gone into chronic rejection.

Last week he was told his condition was incurable and that he had just six months to live. Taking inspiration from the Hollywood film 'The Bucket List', which sees Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman portray two dying men who embark on a tour of the world to do the things they have always wanted to before they die, Ben has now written his own list and friends and family have been busy trying to make his dreams come true.

Celebrities he hopes to meet include music legend David Bowie and rock band Suede as well as celebrity chefs Jamie Oliver and Marco Pierre White – and he also wants to eat at the two chefs' restaurants.

Ben wants to make sure he has his fill of his favourite foods in the next few months, including Krispy Kreme Donuts, Marks & Spencer sticky toffee pudding, and eating at both TGI Fridays and Frankie and Benny's.

Another of Ben's dreams is to visit every Premiership football ground in the UK, top of his hit list are Tottenham Hotspur and Wigan Athletic.

Other trips he would like to take include to Brighton, the Isle of White, Cornwall, the Isles of Scilly and America. He also has his sights set on unforgettable experiences such as taking a hot air balloon ride and swimming with sharks.

He wants to visit the sets of his favourite soaps – EastEnders, Emmerdale, Coronation Street and Hollyoaks, become a radio DJ and appear as an extra in a movie.

The budding writer wants to have a published column in a newspaper and write his own TV series. But top of the list is his desire to raise more awareness about organ donation and get more people to sign the organ donors register. He also wants to meet his donor family and become a parent in the time he has left.

He said: "I've just been trying to keep as busy as possible and I've been amazed at the response, I've been shown so much support. People have offered me football tickets and tickets to concerts.

"I have been overwhelmed by all the love, support, help and generosity everyone has been showing me. People tell me I have changed their outlook on life. To hear something like that just blows me away."

More than 745 people have joined a facebook page dedicated to Ben's bucket list and campaigners have also launched an attempt to get 'Ben's bucket list' trending on Twitter to help him fulfil his wishes.

Ben was born with a condition called Aortic Stenosis, which meant his heart was unable to pump blood around the body properly. Despite his condition, he has had an active life, with monthly check ups at the doctors until he was 14. He attended Meole Brace Junior School and The Wakeman.

After leaving school he got a job as a waiter at Petit Delice in Shrewsbury, but in 2000 after collapsing at work he was taken back into hospital with an irregular heartbeat and was no longer able to work.

Despite the setback Ben continued to enjoy life and in 2005 he met his future wife Ayla. The pair moved in together and in 2006 Ben got a job at Virgin Megastore in Shrewsbury. However, Ben's health began to deteriorate, causing him breathlessness which again stopped him from working. It was at this time doctors announced Ben needed a heart and lung transplant.

He married Ayla at Holy Spirit Church in Sundorne in February 2007 just weeks before a donor heart and lungs were found and he underwent the transplant operation.

Ben has already achieved some of his dreams including meeting his West Ham legend Paulo Di Canio at a Shrewsbury Town game in August. He also renewed his wedding vows to his wife in September.

He has also taken part in a professional photo shoot to leave behind special photos for his loved ones and met comedian Keith Lemon during an episode of TV show Celebrity Juice recently. He is arranging a New Year's Eve fundraiser at the Brooklands Hotel in Shrewsbury in aid of organ donor charity Donna's Dream.