World transplant Games 2025 in Dresden

In my late 20s I was diagnosed IgA Nephropathy, a disease that damages the Kidney. Unfortunately, there is no cure, so although the doctors at Guys Hospital managed to slow the progress, this eventually led to the failure of my kidneys.

Once my kidneys reached the stage where they were beginning to fail, I began to suffer from constant tiredness, sleep, digestive issues and a very restrictive diet. At this stage, the only options were a transplant (Donors) or to start dialysis. The best chance of a successful transplant is from family members. Unfortunately, due to various conditions or no matching blood type, my family members were ruled out.

The transplant nurse talked me through the options available, and I was told to ask my friends if they would consider being tested. I found this very challenging; in fact, it is something I worried about constantly. I mean, how do you ask people to give you a kidney?

My mates knew something was bothering me, I couldn’t think straight, and I had to make some decisions pretty fast about dialysis treatment. I had been placed on the deceased donor list but was told the average wait time was 4-5 years. The nurse kept telling to ask people, but I just didn’t know how. While watching Liverpool, I mentioned it to Lawrence (Lawl). I was cornered after a round of golf (I am sure my mates set it up), and it all came out. I honestly felt better after bottling it all up. The following day, Lawl came round and volunteered to get tested.

I have known Lawl since I was about 7 years old. We met through scouts and the Bermondsey Gang Show. Because we were of different ethnicities, we both believed the chances of a match were slim, but Lawl thought getting him tested might help me to ask others. The results, however, were surprising: Lawl was a compatible donor!

Finally, on 9th June 2023, Lawl donated his kidney to me after one false start 2 months earlier, where the transplant was postponed at the last moment (but that’s a longer story)! This instantly gave me a new lease of life, and after about 6 months, I was fit enough to go away on our annual Golf weekend.

Following my visit to Guys Hospital for a check-up around 7 months after the operation, a nurse mentioned the Transplant Games and put me in touch with George Newman, the Guys Hospital team manager. I attended the Transplant Games in the summer of 2024 and played golf for Guys Adults in the 18+ handicap category just 13 months after my transplant. I was made to feel welcome by the team at Guys, and having just started to regain my strength and fitness following my recovery, as well as being able to play golf more often, as I wasn’t as tired all the time. I played the best round of golf I have played in about 5 years!!! I played so well, I won the 18+ handicap category and walked away with a gold medal for Guys Hospital. I was absolutely over the moon, the only downside of the games was that Lawl wasn’t able to attend, although he could have played in the donor golf event as he was on a family holiday.

I was in complete shock a few months later when I was contacted by George telling me I had been selected by TEAM GB to compete in the World Transplant Games in Dresden, Germany in the Summer of 2025. Not only that, but as my donor, Lawl would also be able to attend and play in the team event (we are hoping to be able to play together).

I will be forever grateful to Lawl for the gift he has given me - he has saved my life, and I now can go out and enjoy the rest of my life instead of being connected to a dialysis machine. But I never thought I would end up with an opportunity to represent my country in a world event. Most of you won’t look at me and think British Athlete, but that is exactly what I am, and thanks to Lawrence, I will be fit and well enough to compete in the World Transplant Games.

Now this is the bit where I need your help. Competing in the World Transplant Games isn’t cheap. All the athletes competing in the games have to raise their own money through fundraising and sponsorship to pay for travel, hotels, registration fees, team GB kit and the money to travel across the country attending the team meeting briefings and team days/training.

My journey from illness to athletic competition is a testament to the power of friendship, resilience, and the incredible impact of organ donation.