First Gloucestershire team to compete in the British Transplant Games
We are incredibly proud of all our competitors and their supporters attending our first entry to the British Transplant Games. Some of the team share their stories below.
On this page
You can register your decision to be an organ and tissue donor on the Organ Donation Register.
Adrian's story
Double transplant recipient in training for the British Transplant Games
A Gloucestershire cyclist who received a double transplant will be taking part in the British Transplant Games in August.
Adrian Heeley, 58 from Stonehouse, Gloucestershire will be part of the first Gloucestershire team to compete in the British Transplant Games.
After his kidneys started failing, Adrian was put on dialysis for almost four years. On 30 July 2023 he received a kidney and pancreas transplant which has transformed his life.
Prior to his transplant, undergoing three 4-hour dialysis sessions weekly at the Cotswold Dialysis Unit at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital was a lifeline but also incredibly difficult. Adrian now no longer needs dialysis nor the insulin treatment for his diabetes that he had for over 40 years.
Adrian said: “The Gloucestershire Kidney Patients Association (GKPA) supported me and my wife through this challenging time, providing practical and emotional support and financial advice. Thanks to the selfless decision of my donor and their family, my life has dramatically changed.”
He now works as a Kitchen Manager at Gloucester Services, is getting back into cycling and looking forward to competing at the British Transplant Games in Nottingham on 1 August. Talking about his motivations for entering the games, Adrian said he wanted to give something back to the renal unit at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital and raise awareness of Chronic Kidney Disease, dialysis treatment, the transplant wait, the overwhelming gratitude of receiving one, and the vital support provided by the GKPA.
“The British Transplant Games presents a personal challenge for me - honouring my donor's memory and building up strength for a cycling time trial as part of my recovery journey. Many believe that the journey ends after a transplant, but the reality is different - it's long, often hard, and presents new physical and psychological challenges.”
He is swimming three times a week and cycling up to 15 miles in preparation for the sporting challenge. It will be an emotional day for Adrian and his wife Sharon.
After getting the transplant call, they travelled to the Churchill Hospital, Oxford and he was in surgery for nine hours. Adrian’s surgeon Dr Sinner and the rest of the team provided reassurance and talked through any worries. He was out of hospital eight days later and says that his fellow dialysis patients formed a family community network of support during treatment and recovery.
Liam's story
England and Wales Transplant cricketer joins Gloucestershire team for the British Transplant Games
Liam Ward will be competing in the British Transplant Games this August following his kidney transplant two years ago.
The 31-year-old from Gloucester, will be part of the first Gloucestershire team at the games held in Nottingham and is entering the 5k run and darts events.
He played his first England and Wales Transplant cricket match last year and in addition to his cricket and the British Transplant Games, Liam is also running the London Marathon next year, fundraising for Kidney Research.
Liam said: “I am fundraising for Kidney Research UK by running the London Marathon 2025 to ensure that there is enough awareness and funding to try and find a genuine cure for chronic kidney disease and to improve current treatments. I also want to honour my donor and make sure I am making the most of my second chance.”
In 2013 he applied to join the Army where kidney issues were picked up during a medical examination. He was referred to Gloucestershire Royal Hospital where he was diagnosed with IgA Nephropathy and put on the transplant list for two and a half years. In 2022 he received a kidney transplant at Southmead Hospital in Bristol.
“I didn’t realise how unwell I was until the transplant. Very quickly I really felt the benefit. I feel like I’m constantly running at the moment, in training for the games and marathon next year.”
Ryan's story
Transplant games medallist returns for sixth games this August
At 19, Ryan Penfold has already competed in five British Transplant Games, winning gold in tennis at the Newport games in 2019. Diagnosed with chronic renal failure he had a kidney transplant at age five.
Ryan, from Newnham on Severn, Gloucestershire was admitted to Bristol Children’s Hospital for his transplant operation in 2010.
Follow-ups took place at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital and he was transferred to the adults team less than a year ago. Renal Transplant Specialist Nurse, Sarah Ryder and Dr Jenkins see Ryan every three months to monitor his progress.
Ryan said: “The Games have been really good. I’ve competed in Liverpool, Birmingham, Nottingham, Coventry and Newport. I’ve got lots of supporters and this year my girlfriend and my parents are going to be cheering me on in the tennis, golf and six-a-side football events. I’m not able to play contact sports but I’m really looking forward to trying golf which will be a new event for me this time.”
Alongside his success in tennis at previous games, he’s also won bronze in the 25m butterfly swimming event. Outside of his work in construction, Ryan is a part-time lifeguard at his local pool in Cinderford and teaches lifesaving skills to children.
Ryan will be attending the opening ceremony for the British Transplant Games in Nottingham which begin on 1 August. Social events are also planned to provide the opportunity for transplant recipients and donors to share experiences.
A range of sports are available to take part in such as cycling, track and field, tennis, squash and volleyball. Ryan and his teammates will be the first Gloucestershire team to enter the British Transplant Games.
Sarah Ryder, Renal Transplant Specialist Nurse said: “We are incredibly proud of all our competitors and their supporters attending our first entry to the British Transplant Games. All of our competitors this year have links to kidney, or kidney and pancreas transplant. Kidney disease is a challenging condition and impacts significantly on the quality of life and mental wellbeing for patients, their family and friends. These games are a celebration of the selflessness nature of organ donation whether through living or deceased donation.
“Adrian Heeley, one of our competitors, has set up a just giving page to raise funds for Gloucestershire Kidney Patients Association who have fully funded our attendance at these games, including kits, banner and entry costs.”
Andrew's story
Andrew volunteers to represent Gloucestershire in the British Transplant Games
Andrew Danson is part of the first Gloucestershire team at the British Transplant Games and has signed up for both the 1500m and 5k running events in August.
When he applied for a new job Andrew, 42, had an employment health check which led to his diagnosis of IgA Nephropathy which is a form of kidney disease. Eighteen months later he received his kidney transplant from his mum at Cardiff Hospital in 2011.
After moving to Cheltenham in 2016, his care was transferred to Gloucestershire Royal Hospital. Andrew said he was fortunate to only have up to four months of dialysis before his transplant and found his condition was deteriorating quite quickly.
His siblings were also a match but his mum was the chosen donor and they were in hospital together for a week. Andrew was able to return to work within twelve weeks.
Looking ahead to the games in Nottingham, Andrew said: “I’m excited to be part of the transplant games. I’ve joined the CLC Striders Running Club in Cheltenham and am training with them twice a week to prepare for the running events.”
Gloucester Kidney Patients Association are supporting the Gloucestershire team and added: “Gloucestershire Kidney Patients Association is proud to be sponsoring the Gloucester Team who are competing in the Transplant Games for the first time. Kidney disease affects all aspects of life for kidney patients and their families. Transplants can completely transform their lives.
Organ donation can only happen due to the generosity of donors and their families, either living or deceased. As a charity we wanted to support the team at the games to show what can be achieved after a transplant and to pay tribute to all the donors and their families.”
Gloucestershire Kidney Patients Association is proud to be sponsoring the Gloucester Team who are competing in the Transplant Games for the first time. As a charity we wanted to support the team at the games to show what can be achieved after a transplant and to pay tribute to all the donors and their families.”
Tracie's story
Tracie to represent Gloucestershire in the British Transplant Games
Tracie Cox donated a kidney just over a year ago for her brother Simon who had hereditary Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD). She is part of the first Gloucestershire team to enter the British Transplant Games in Nottingham this August.
The 53-year-old from Cinderford is aiming to raise awareness of organ donation and the transformative effect it has. Tracie said: “You can live a perfectly healthy life with one kidney. After losing the weight that I lost and embarking on the Couch to 5K programme, I am probably healthier and fitter than I have ever been in my life. It’s transformed me and changed my life in only positive ways. I need to let people know. It’s not just a brilliant thing to do for someone else but actually is a really positive thing to do for yourself as well.”
Simon, 56 was on dialysis from 2021 which had a huge impact on his quality of life. After enquiring about kidney donation Tracie was told her BMI needed to be under 30 to donate. She started on her weight loss journey with the best motivation losing approximately seven stone.
After testing Tracie said: “Simon and I weren’t a match but there is a national paired donation scheme which meant we were able to find a suitable kidney. The operations took place on the same day in June last year.” Brother and sister were both at Southmead Hospital in Bristol and Simon had his aftercare transferred to Gloucestershire Royal Hospital.
Live donors can take part in the 5K donor run which Tracie will be running on Saturday 3 August. Training involved early 5am runs in the Forest of Dean and exercising on a treadmill which she managed to fit in around her full-time work in a school.