Thanks for taking the time to visit "Janet's Big Swim" JustGiving page.

On 25 June 2012 my sister Pam donated one of her kidneys to me and with it the gift of life.

10 months ago I was assisting my friend Dina Parker by counting lengths at the annual Swimathon event in David Lloyd Health and Fitness Club in Belfast and I vowed I would be in the water taking part the following year if I was fit and well enough.

Since that time I've qualified as a swimmimg coach and have been invited to accompany the Great Britain & NI team to the World Transplant Games which will be held in Durban South Africa in July 2013. I am raising funds to assist with the cost of accompanying the GB & NI swim squad to these Games as part of the coaching team. 

I developed kidney disease very suddenly when I was 16. I was running internationally for Northern Ireland and a simple virus from a sore throat damaged both my kidneys. My first transplant in 1983 was unsuccessful but a second transplant in April 1984 was a total successs - a young person had died as a result of a road accident and their family had so generously donated their loved ones organs.

I was able to return to sport through the British Transplant Games enjoying my new found health to the full. I was selected to represent Great Britain & NI to compete in the World Transplant Games and travelled to many wonderful countries. I took up swimming in 1995 and again competed with a fair degree of success in the pool setting WTG records along the way.

But in 2010 I started to develop problems with kidney function...I needed another transplant. My sister Pam stepped up immediately to be tested as a possible donor and just before Christmas 2011 she called me to tell me the tests had shown she was a perfect match...what a Christmas present...what a gift of life. The surgery took place on 25 June 2012 and I haven;t look back since.

The Transplant Games uses sport to demonstrate the success of transplant surgery and create greater public awareness about organ donation.

By supporting me I hope to share my story and inspire others to donate much needed organs.....

Thank you...

Janet

 

 

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