THE mum of an “inspirational” teenager who died from cystic fibrosis has urged Suffolk residents to save lives by joining the donor register.

Georgia Ball, who was known for her brilliant sense of humour and her love of Ipswich Town Football Club, was 18-years-old when she died from the condition on October 6, 2010.

Mum Tracey, of High Road, Swilland, said that while a transplant could never have saved her daughter, it could save the lives of thousands of others.

She said: “Kerry is a beautiful young woman and it is terrible that someone so young has to go through this.

“Young lives are being put through this awful condition.

“For Georgia, a transplant was sadly never an option because she was too poorly. She would never have been well enough to have been added to the list.

“Although an organ couldn’t have saved Georgia’s life, it can save others – if I could have donated Georgia’s organs, I would have.”

During the last years of her life, Georgia remained “gracious and dignified”, while she was determined to help other people fighting the life-threatening condition.

“I know that if Georgia was here she would have continued to help raise awareness of cystic fibrosis,” the proud mum said.

“And as she did in her last years, she would have continued to inspire people – she was so full of courage. My angel truly was an inspiration.

“She would encourage anyone who is considering joining the transplant list to do it.”

Ms Ball, who has been on the donor list since she turned 18, said she believed the country should have an opt-out approach to being a donor, rather than the current opt-in initiative.

She said: “It is a personal choice but there are so many lives that could be saved through this.

“Anything that stops a family going through what my family has experienced can only be a good thing.