Wokingham resident Helen Wilson has achieved huge success at the Transplant Games over the years after receiving a new kidney in 2007. And she was at the Tesco store in Wokingham recently, raising awareness for organ donation.
Helen said: “Without the wonder of organ donation, I would not be here. Raising awareness is very close to my heart. I do these events as often as I can because I realise how lucky I’ve been.”
Helen was with fellow Transplant Games participant Donna Barrington-Smith who underwent a liver transplant 17 years ago and a second one at the beginning of last year. “It was Donna who told me about the games in the first place,” said Helen.
Helen’s disciplines include archery, discus, shotput, and javelin. She trains three times a week with Bracknell Athletics Club coach Ken Spencer and this ramps up to six times a week closer to the competition.
Helen first attended the games in 2014 as a spectator and decided it was something she would like to get involved in. Archery was a sport you could just enter on the day and she also joined the 100 and 200 metre races. “I had never done anything like this before – I didn’t even know where to start and finish – but I loved every minute of it.”
And today Helen is grateful that it is a way of giving back and helps tell her story, promoting the benefits of organ donation.
“During Organ Donation Week I wanted to take the opportunity to remind people of the phenomenal ‘Gift of Life’. As a double transplant recipient, I know only too well the benefits of transplantation.
“I’ve had both a kidney transplant, which was lovingly donated by my brother in 2007, and a liver transplant in December 2013 following diagnoses of both polycystic kidney and liver disease.”
Helen said following her second transplant she was ‘in a right mess’. She said she could hardly walk and couldn’t even sit up in bed and had a rough time recovering – but the Transplant Games was the lifeline she needed.
“I am an incredibly lucky person and would not be here if it were not for my brother coming forward and the amazing generosity of my donor family in allowing me to receive a new liver from a loved one.
“Since then, I have been spending my time living and enjoying my life and doing what I can to raise awareness of the importance of organ donation – and the Transplant Games are a fantastic way of doing this.
“The Games are all about showcasing the benefits of organ donation and celebrating life, as well as ensuring that as many people as possible not only join the Organ Donor Register, but also express their organ donation wishes with their loved ones.
“Through competing at the Games, I have met some amazing people who are organ recipients like me. I have also met some amazing people from donor families and am still blown away by the joy they get from seeing people like me doing the things I am doing. I am in awe of them and love having the opportunity to talk to them and hear their stories.”
Helen has had a lot of support from family and friends as well as her local pub, the White Horse who hold fundraising events like a recent quiz night and raffle.
And she added: “My donor family are always in our thoughts. I write to them each year to let them know what I have been up to and hope that this brings them some comfort.
“I would encourage all families to have the conversation that says “I want to be an organ donor” so that when the time comes, everyone knows the wishes of other people in their family. This means the most generous gift of all can be given to save the lives of people who would otherwise not make it.
“Please help to give other people the same chances that I have had and sign up on the Organ Donor Register and have the conversation with your family to say that you wish to be a donor.
“The gift of life is phenomenal and so is the amazing impact it has on people and their families – I should know!”
Running for over 40 years, The Westfield Health British Transplant Games are a celebration of life. Taking place in different host cities every summer, the games see teams from hospitals across the UK come together to compete in a medley of sports. The four-day event attracts around 1,000 transplant athletes and more than 1,700 supporters.
This year the Games are in Nottingham, running from August 1st to 4th. The World Transplant Games is next year in German which Helen is hoping to compete in.