A group of transplant patients from the Golden Jubilee National Hospital will show plenty of heart when they battle it out for medals at the British Transplant Games this weekend.

Five patients from the Golden Jubilee will be among the 750 athletes taking part in the flagship event which runs for four days from today (Thursday 27 July) in North Lanarkshire.

• Suzanne Swinson, from Bearsden, is six years post transplant. A regular competitor at both the British Transplant Games and Winter World Transplant Games, this year she will be competing in the Bowls and Archery events as she hopes to add more gold, silver and bronze medals to her collection. In 2014, ahead of the Commonwealth Games, Suzanne carried the Queen’s Baton through the Golden Jubilee as part of its route across West Dunbartonshire, as the baton continued its journey to the opening ceremony of Glasgow 2014.
• Steven Donaldson, from Largs, is seven years post transplant. The amateur cyclist will be taking part in the Time Trials and the Road Race as he looks to emulate his success at the recent World Transplant Games in Malaga, where he was the fastest heart transplant patient in both the time trial and the road race.
• Reg Chisholm, from Dunbar, is 18 years post transplant. Making a return to the Games for the first time in several years after taking home five gold medals in the cycling, running, and triathlon events at the 2006 British Transplant Games, Reg is looking forward to competing in the Cycling event.
• Richard Heaney, from Elgin, is almost a year post transplant. He will take part in the Games for the first time when he takes to the fairways to compete in the golf event.
• Linda Owens, from Lockerbie, is two years post transplant. She is keen to excel in the 3km race

The Golden Jubilee is home to the Scottish National Advanced Heart Failure Service (SNAHFS) where heart transplantation is the final line of treatment.

The Director of SNAHFS, Nawwar Al-Attar said:  “As home to the national adult heart transplant service, the Golden Jubilee is delighted to once again support this year’s British Transplant Games.

“It is fantastic to see five of our heart transplant patients taking part at the event and everyone here at the Golden Jubilee will be cheering them on.

“Our goal at the Golden Jubilee is to ensure that every patient we treat receives the highest possible standard of care, and is able to enjoy a full and active life. By competing in the Transplant Games, Suzanne. Steven, Reg, Richard and Linda are true inspirations who show what can be achieved after transplantation.”

The British Transplant Games have been staged annually since 1978 and help deliver Transplant Sports aim to demonstrate the benefits of transplantation whilst increasing public awareness of the need for more people to join the NHS Organ Donation Register.

For more information on this year’s event, visit: www.britishtransplantgames.co.uk/

To join the organ donor register, visit: https://www.organdonation.nhs.uk/

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