A Cumbrian transplant athlete has recently returned from the World Transplant Games in Australia with five gold medals and one silver medal.
Becky Seaton, 41, of Cumwhinton near Carlisle, brought home the gold in the 200m, long jump, high jump, 4 x 100m and the 4 x 400m relays and silver in the 100m.
She was one of 120 transplant athletes representing Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Becky said: “I want to thank all those who enabled me to have this amazing opportunity. Attending the World Transplant Games has provided me with a platform to raise awareness for organ, tissue and stem cell donation.
“I have also been able to demonstrate the positive benefits of donation and transplantation; be inspired to set future health, fitness and sports goals; increase my connection to the transplant community in my country and forge lifelong friendships with inspirational athletes from all over the world; improve my physical and mental wellbeing and most importantly, recognise and honour my organ donor, Dylan, and all donors.”
Becky had a lifesaving kidney and pancreas transplant in 2016 and has since participated in sport to help raise awareness for organ and tissue donation, celebrate her second chance and honour her organ donor. She has previously won medals at the British and European transplant games and is delighted to have won titles at her first World Transplant Games.
Sharon Jenner, emergency care and medicine service manager at North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Trust, whose team have supported Becky since her transplant, said: “Becky is a shining example of how organ donation changes lives. Becky is so determined to live her life to the full and she wouldn’t be able to would it not be for the kindness of her donor and their family.
“I would urge everyone to have a conversation about organ donation so that your family and those closest to you know your wishes when you die. Organ donation really is an opportunity to give someone else the gift of life at one of the darkest of times.”
Becky joined athletes from 45 countries across the globe as they took part in over 20 sporting and social events, coming together to celebrate the gift of life and demonstrate the importance of staying healthy and active post-transplant.
After winning a total of 288 medals, Team GB & NI finished at the top of the medal table, with Australia coming second and Thailand taking third position.
Dr Paul Harden, one of Team GB & NI’s Doctors, and a board member of the World Transplant Games Federation and chair of Transplant Sport, said: “We are so incredibly proud of each and every athlete that travelled to Australia to compete on behalf of their country. Many of these people have defied the odds, experienced near-death situations and battled long illnesses, to see them taking part in sport with transplant communities from across the world is a true inspiration.
“At Transplant Sport our main aims are to, of course, raise awareness of organ donation, but also use sport as a vehicle to encourage families to have crucial conversations and share their organ donation wishes. It’s been a pleasure to be a part of Team GB & NI and do this on a global scale in Australia and we want to say a big thank you to our hosts in Perth.
“The World Transplant Games have got us really excited for our own summer of sport, it’s now less than 100 days to go until the British Transplant Games – we can’t wait to see all of our transplanted athletes from across the UK in Coventry in July!”
