On May 9th 2011 Darren selflessly donated his best kidney to his Bro-in-law Gavin. Without a transplanted kidney life would be very different for Gavin, Clair, Harriet & Esme. Since that day life has been great!

Since then Gavin caught Darren's cycling bug and went on to win medals in the British Transplant Games, a silver in the 2013 World Transplant Games and a bronze in the 2016 European Games. Following a cycling time trial gold in the 2016 British Games Gavin has been selected to represent GB at the Malaga 2017 World Transplant Games in cycling and basketball. Darren has been no slouch in this time...and even won the British Transplant Games donor run in 2013 and 2014! The really amazing news is that, to celebrate it's 30th anniversary, the WTG is also allowing living donors to compete, so in 2017 both Gavin and Darren will be representing Great Britain! The living donor competition is a multi-sport event with the overall winner being crowned with the Greatest Gift Living Donor Award.

This is the culmination of a busy 5 years post transplant. Gavin and Darren have taken part in many events to raise money and awareness for organ donation and transplant charities - Cumbrian Commotion, London 2 Paris cycle ride and Coast to Coast cycle ride, and with many others have raised £40,000 as part of the Organ Finders Team.

In 2015 the reality of organ donation and the selfless sacrifice donors make again struck home as Darren's mother-in-law, Doreen, received a life saving lung transplant after 3 years of debilitating illness. Now one year post-op, and all thanks to an amazing person signing the organ donor register, Doreen has not looked back, is living a normal healthy life, and is able to see her two grand sons grow up.

Unfortunately transplant athletes get no funding towards their goal of becoming world champions. They don't tick a disability box as the whole point of the games is to demonstrate that a perfectly normal, healthy life can be led post-transplant. And competing isn't cheap - athletes have to pay flights, transportation of equipment, accommodation, registration, team kit, insurance and other travel costs. All in all the cost is approximately £1,500 per athlete.

A HUGE THANK YOU TO CLAIR WHO RAN THE BIRMINGHAM HALF MARATHON ON 16TH OCTOBER FOR OUR FUNDRAISING EFFORTS!

Gavin and Darren are raising funds to cover their expenses associated with attending the World Transplant Games in Malaga, Spain. Any surplus funds will go towards the Transplant Sport UK Management Team (including physios and coaches) who give up their time to support the team.

If you would like to help Gavin And Darren realise a dream, and more importantly raise further awareness of the NHS Organ Donor Register and transplantation, please give what you think is appropriate! Every penny helps.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.