Following on from my Gold medal at the GB transplant games, I have been invited to compete in the World Transplant games as part of the Great Britain Swimming team to be held in Malaga in June this year.
All competitors have at some point in their life have received a life saving organ transplant but for the first time this year donors have been invited to take part in the world games.
I am a live donor and donated a kidney 5 years ago to my friend, who was on kidney dialysis three times a week, hours at a time, suffering from pain, illness and tiredness until she received my kidney allowing her to be a mother again to her Son, and go back to work.
I am fundraising to enable me to take part in the games as part of team GB . The cost of travel, accommodation and kit (speedo have kindly sponsored our swimming suits) comes to approx. £1500. Any monies raised over and above the cost of attending the World Transplant games will go straight to Give a Kidney Charity.
Publicity is the main agenda for Give a kidney charity of which I have been a supporter since it's inception in 2011. The charity’s purpose is ‘to promote and increase awareness of non-directed (altruistic) kidney donation, publicise why more live kidney donors are needed and to explain what being a live kidney donor entails. 300 people in need of a kidney die each year, as there are simply not enough available from deceased donors. Raising awareness involves communicating personal stories with the press up and down the country and experience shows that hearing a donor’s story is often just what inspires other potential donors to come forward to do the same. Competing in the world transplant games will allow me to help with the charity,s purpose. "We are delighted that Serena is willing to take part in the Transplant Games in Spain to raise further awareness of living donation. We hope you will support her as she raises the necessary funds to allow her to take part." www.giveakidney.org