ABOUT a year ago, Nicholas Shugg struggled to play along with his mates during lunchtime at school.

He was born with small and misshapen kidneys, which left him feeling fatigued after just a short amount of play.

But 11 months after receiving the gift of a kidney from his dad James Shugg, the 12-year-old Kingscliff Public School student has grown 10cm, gained at least eight kilograms, and is brimming with energy.

The experience has made Mr Shugg, and Nic's mum Melissa Groom, passionate advocates of organ donation.

“I am feeling better than ever, and very proud. It is so rewarding seeing the end results and watching Nic living life, and having fun,” Mr Shugg, a DJ Stringer Coolangatta estate agent, said.

Mr Shugg, Nic and his brother and sister Matthew and Grace, climbed Mount Warning recently, something Nic would not have been able to do last year.

“He made it OK, I was struggling,” Mr Shugg said with a laugh.

Mr Shugg was the only living donor to go to the recent Gold Coast Service of Thanksgiving, where organ recipients thanked their donors' families.

“It was a tearful ceremony. Recipients have no idea who their donors are, but it was all about them showing appreciation to the families.”

Ms Groom said Nic was off the growth hormones he had to take previously and was given a clean bill of health at his most recent doctor's visit.