Melissa's World Transplant Games - Malaga 2017

In 2008 I was running 30km a week, eating healthy, keeping slim, and planning my wedding. Within a fortnight I couldn't walk up a flight of stairs without losing my breath and in July 2009 I had a bone marrow transplant to cure a rare blood disorder.

Unfortunately, my only brother was not a match for me, so the Anthony Nolan Trust put out a worldwide search to find someone with my specific genetics, and a young man from America donated his stem cells to save my life. After a gruelling first 6 months, I was able to return to work and exercise, gradually regaining the fitness I'd had before the illness and chemo... and eventually surpassing "the old me"!

In October 2012 I ran my first full marathon in Amsterdam, finishing in 3:48. I ran my second in Copenhagen in May 2013, and after a severe bout of shingles interrupted my training, I still managed to finish in 3:52. In 2014 I ran the Virgin Money London marathon in 3:30 and the Berlin marathon in 3:46. In 2015 I ran London marathon, finishing in 3:32, and in 2016 I completed my first ultra, the 49km off-road Transylvanian Bear Race, finishing in 6.5 hours as the second female.

I've competed in the past four British Transplant Games, winning gold medals in the Mini Marathon (as well as a trophy for first woman), 1500m, 800m, 400m and silver in the 200m. I attended my first World Transplant Games in Argentina in 2015, earning a clean sweep of six goal medals and a new World Record in the 1500m. I'm so proud to have been selected to represent Great Britain at the World Transplant Games again in Malaga and I'm hoping to repeat my success in the Spanish heat!

Though the World Transplant Games are an IOC event, funding is very limited so athletes must fundraise to cover the extensive transportation, accommodation and training costs, which is where you come in! I am raising funds to cover my 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.