In April this year, I will be competing in my first World Transplant Games in Australia. As well as raising awareness for the power of organ donation, I am looking to raise funds for the selfless volunteers who will support the team at the World Transplant Games.

What are the World Transplant Games?

The biannual World Transplant Games gives athletes that have undergone organ transplants the opportunity to compete in various sports against fellow transplant recipients. The aim of the games is to spread the word of organ donation and its incredibly positive impact on competitors and their families. It helps to demonstrate the serious benefits of exercise and community for those who have been through serious illness and are lucky enough to continue living life to the full after receiving the gift of life.

My story and what are the World Transplant Games

I was born with Alport Syndrome, a rare genetic disease that causes hearing loss and kidney failure. My kidney failure happened gradually throughout childhood, and I had my first transplant that was donated by my father, when I was 21. A few years later, that kidney failed after a series of complications and illnesses and I ended up on dialysis. My mother went through tests and was found to be an excellent match. She donated her kidney to me in November 2004. I am very lucky and often remind myself how lucky I am to have had three chances to live!

Then What?

In September 2022, I received my selection letter to represent GB&NI team in the World Transplant Games this April on the track in the 400m and 800m. I am so proud to have been selected and since then I have been training incredibly hard to become a contender in the World games. There’s a lot of work still to do but I think I am making good progress!

My selection came following a long history of taking part in the annual British Transplant Games.  In 2020, I committed to training  hard in order to stand a chance of winning gold medals and qualifying to represent my country in a world games. 

Last summer, off the back of some good performances and 5 medals at the British Games in Leeds (including 2 Golds), I was selected to compete for GB&NI in the European Transplant Games in Oxford, where I won 2 silver medals and 1 bronze medal competing against athletes from 27 countries across Europe. This is how I qualified for a spot in the GB&NI Team to go to Australia.


In October, I became a member of a brilliant athletics training group, led by the inspirational coach, Rodger Hughes, who has coached some very talented athletes, including Shelayna Oskan-Clarke and Melissa Courtney-Bryant, and I currently train with Rodger and his group 3 times per week then by myself another 3, with a day to rest in between! The training is intense, but the spirit amongst Rodger’s athletes is strong and we are great at pushing each other to reach our individuals goals.

So, how can you help?

As well as us competitors, there are also a team of volunteers who will be in Australia supporting us. They include Team Managers, coaches, medical staff and physios. These volunteers are giving up their time (many taking leave away from their paid jobs) to come and support us. It would be amazing to be able to raise some money towards their costs!

I am seeking opportunities to gain individual or corporate sponsorship to help fund these volunteers on the trip to World Transplant Games in Australia. I have seen these volunteers in action at the British and European Games and have also myself made extensive use of the physios myself!!  They all  work tirelessly throughout and enable us to compete. 

As well as supporting a great cause and spreading the word of organ donation, for organisations wishing to sponsor, funding these volunteers will show your dedication to CSR.

Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving Page.