A kidney transplant significantly improves the life of a child with long-term kidney disease. The journey to transplantation, often via dialysis, is often though fraught with difficulties, both expected and unexpected. This has a significant impact on the child, their siblings, their parents and their wider family.

The annual British Transplant Games provide much needed joy to transplant kids and their families. The children get to compete at a variety of sports. Their whole family often attend, bringing some relief from the merry-go-round of all the medications, fluid targets and clinic appointments. The Southampton Hospital paediatric kidney transplant team, "The Organators", is funded entirely through charitable donations. These donations enable the Southampton Paediatric Nephrology Unit to provide entry to the Games, transport, accommodation, team uniforms etc.

The cycle ride from Evelina Hospital in London to Southampton Hospital mimics the journey the children take after their transplant in London. My son, Oscar, took this journey after receiving one of my kidneys in August 2017. His journey wasn't of course by bicycle but I hope one day he'll be keen and able to cycle this same ride! 

Cycling the 100 miles from London to Southampton and competing in the Transplant Games helps promote and demonstrate the significant benefits of organ donation.

Please donate some money (if not a kidney just yet!) to also help give these kids a great weekend of fun, competition and camaraderie and encourage them a lifetime of sport and fitness which will help extend the lifetime of their kidney transplants.