The family of an organ donor met the recipient of their late loved one’s liver at the transplant games on Saturday.
They met before a donor run during the largest ever Westfield Health British Transplant Games, which is being held in Sheffield this week.
Liz Phillips, whose husband Rick Phillips died of a sudden brain aneurysm in 2020, and their daughter Jade, were at the games on Saturday afternoon.
Before the donor race in the evening, they met Steve Whelan, from Oxford, whose life was saved when he received Mr Phillips’ liver in a transplant.
They walked the race together in a tribute to Mr Phillips.
In its 48th year, the games have brought together more than 2,800 recipients, donors and donor families.
That includes 1,124 organ and stem cell transplanted athletes, 219 live donors and more than 1,500 of their supporters.
Dr Paul Harden, chairman of Transplant Active, said: “These record-breaking numbers demonstrate just how much these games mean to so many people, and it reflects the growing impact of the games and the transplant community across the UK.
“The event is a vehicle to showcase to the transplant community – and indeed those waiting for a transplant – the importance of leading a healthy lifestyle post-transplant and the life-changing impact it can have.
“We must not forget, however, that more people than ever are waiting for a transplant.
“When someone passes away it will be their immediate family who need to provide consent as to whether their organs are donated, so it is crucial that as many people as possible have that conversation with their families about their desire to donate.”
The games run from Thursday to Sunday this week, with swimming, football, track and field, bowling, tennis and archery among the competitions on offer.
Participants compete for the hospital where they had their transplant.
One competitor Pete Nyland, 68, was diagnosed with liver disease in 2015 and given two years to live unless he lost enough weight to be deemed fit for a transplant.
He weighed 24 stone at the time, and needed to lose around five to be fit enough. Three years later he had lost more than eight stone and received a transplant.
Mr Nyland has led a normal life since and continues to exercise regularly, winning medals in the British, European & World Transplant Games in archery, petanque and bowling.
Younger competitors Penny Rorrison, 10, and her sister Daisy, eight, were both diagnosed with Fanconi Anaemia, a rare genetic condition which can cause bone marrow failure.
Their lives were saved by their father Scott, who donated stem cells via his neck to both of his daughters.
Penny and Daisy will be representing Leeds Children’s Hospital as they compete in the games.
The donor run has both 2.5k and 5k versions through Sheffield city centre for transplant recipients, donors and their families.
Organisers hope the games will encourage more people to commit to donating organs by confirming their consent via the NHS organ donation register.
