‘Icing on the cake’ for 67-year-old who snaps up bronze medal at British Transplant Games
A 67-year-old who suffered liver failure 22 years ago has snapped up a medal for swimming in the British Transplant Games 2024.
Simon Randerson, of Recency Mews in Oval, recently visited Nottingham for the annual sporting event, taking home a bronze medal in backstroke.
About 1,000 transplant recipients of all ages took part in various sports at the 2024 Games, which was held between August 1 and 4.
To attend the games, athletes must have received a life-saving organ transplant such as heart, lung, liver or kidney, and be on immunosuppressive medication to stop the body rejecting the new organ.
Mr Randerson has chronic hepatitis B and underwent a liver transplant at King’s College Hospital in 2002 after he developed liver failure.
He said: “I received my transplant 22 years ago, and it transformed my life.
“I’ve achieved some incredible things thanks to my transplant, and in 2005 I was selected to take part in the World Transplant Games in London, Ontario, as a swimmer.
“I have been to almost all World and British Summer Games since then, and it was an honour to be able to attend the 2024 Games in Nottingham. Bringing home a medal was just the icing on the cake.
“If it wasn’t for ‘the gift of life’ from my donor, none of this would have been possible.”
The competition, which has been running for more than 40 years, is aimed at showing the benefits of transplantation, encouraging patients to regain fitness, and encouraging more people to join the organ donor register.
Harry Bannister, specialist nurse organ donation at King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Simon’s performance at the British Transplant Games is something to be incredibly proud of.
“The British Transplant Games are a celebration of life, and they remind us all that the gift of organ donation can transform lives, giving people the opportunity to do truly extraordinary things.”
Pictured top: Simon Randerson wears his bronze medal at the British Transplant Games in Nottingham last month (Picture: King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust)