Birmingham transplant recipients preparing for British Transplant Games after life-saving second chances

A group of adults and children who received a transplant at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham are preparing to represent the hospital that helped to give them a second chance at life in a major sporting festival.

Around 40 people aged 18 to 70-plus who received a transplant at the hospital will be participating at the Westfield Health British Transplant Games in Sheffield between 6 and 9 August.

The Games is set to feature 2,500 participants, including more than 1,000 transplant recipients across 26 sports; with transplant recipients grouped into teams according to where they had their transplant.

Among those competing in the Games for the first time is David Taylor, 52, from Gloucester, who received a Living Donor Kidney Transplant after being diagnosed with vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) – a condition where urine flows back towards the kidneys instead of out of the body. He will be competing in Stableford Golf at the Games.

The Team Managers are Martin Searle and Keeleigh John, and Martin outlined the importance of participating in the Westfield Health Transplant Games.

Martin said: “Leading this team at the British Transplant Games is a real pleasure, as it is packed with thousands of people who are embracing their second shot at life through exercise and sport, which is really important for those who have had a transplant.

“When you look around at the Games, it is full of optimism and thousands of people who are still with us here today because of heroic donors, and donor families.

“One person’s organs can help to save up to nine lives alone, which is why it’s important that everybody talks to their loved ones about wanting to consent to organ donation, because when you’re no longer here, it is your immediate family who make the final decision about whether your organs are donated or not.”

The Games will demonstrate the healthy, fulfilling lives that transplant patients can lead and provide an opportunity to thank live donors and donor families for their life-changing generosity.

The event is now in its 48th year, and is the flagship event of the Transplant Active campaign that promotes active recovery for transplant recipients and increases awareness of the benefits of organ donation.

Organisers hope the Games will encourage more people to commit to donating organs themselves by confirming their consent via the NHS Organ Donation register, as the organ transplant waiting list in the UK is at record levels, topping more than 8,000 according to NHS Blood and Transplant.

They also hope the Games will inspire more people to join Anthony Nolan’s stem cell register. This year the charity aims to sign up at least 35,000 new donors to its register to give more people with blood cancers and blood disorders a second chance of life.

For more information about the 2026 Westfield Health British Transplant Games, visit transplantactive.co.uk

For more details about organ donation, visit organdonation.nhs.uk/register-your-decision/donate/

For more details about how to join Anthony Nolan’s stem cell register, visit: anthonynolan.org/help-save-a-life/join-stem-cell-register