Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

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.

On 16^th May 2002, 6 weeks after my 40^th birthday and only days after completing part of the West Highland Way with friends, I became very ill while at work. I was rushed to hospital and spent the next month in the Royal Infirmary in Glasgow after being diagnosed with end-stage renal failure. That diagnosis and the endless rounds of dialysis that
followed turned my world upside down and had a similar impact on my immediate and extended family.

On 21^st January 2004 my brother, Michael, donated one of his kidneys to me. Michael had a really rough time during the operation
to remove the kidney, although thankfully he went on to make a full recovery.
For me, the transplant was an instant success and I have remained well
throughout these last 15 years.

I am so thankful for Michael’s selfless gift of a new life
to me. He saved my life and in doing so put his own life at risk. Words are quite inadequate to say thank you for such a gift.

A few years after the transplant, I heard that a sporting
event– the British Transplant games – was going to be held in Edinburgh in 2007. That was my first Transplant Games and I have gone on to compete in many more Games since then, travelling to various parts of the UK to take part.

2019 will see the 15^th anniversary of my lifesaving transplant. What a great excuse, if one were needed, to celebrate that gift of life!! However, I have also been selected to take part in the World Transplant Games, which are being held in August 2019 in Newcastle. My feelings about this have ranged from disbelief (I emailed the selectors to
check they had not made a mistake!) to trepidation, to my current delight at being asked to represent my country at a world sporting event, at which the benefits of organ donation are celebrated and promoted.

I am raising funds to cover some of my expenses associated
with attending the World Transplant Games in Newcastle. This includes team kit, travel and accommodation costs for the training camps and Games themselves, insurance, and admin fees. Any funds raised over my target will go to the Transplant Sport UK Management Team (including physiotherapists and coaches) who give up their time to support the team.

The Transplant Games are an amazing way of raising awareness
about the benefits of organ donation. I know only too well how restrictive life on dialysis was for me and how that changed after my transplant. I am one of the lucky ones. There are thousands of people in the country waiting for the chance of a new life.  I hope that my
story will inspire you, if you have not already done so, to take a moment to register on the NHS organ donor register (by calling 0300 123 2323 or by logging onto www.organdonation.nhs.uk).
Please also remember to tell your family your wishes.

Thank you!!