Ruddington’s Mark Brown and his fellow Team GB athletes have triumphed once again at the World Winter Transplant Games, taking away team silver medals in curling. At least, they would have taken them away – but the medals were stuck on a container in China due to the coronavirus outbreak!
The Games, which took place in Banff, Canada, in February, saw a 25-strong Team GB compete in a range of sports including skiing, snowboarding, snow shoe events and curling. Whilst the curling team were hoping to retain their gold medal from 2019, they were beaten into second place by an accomplished Canadian team in the gold/silver playoff. Nevertheless, this was a fantastic effort and Team GB deserve our congratulations!
Mark, who also took part in the downhill skiing event, funded his own presence at the Games by organising a 76 mile bike ride from Nottingham City Hospital, where he receives aftercare for his kidney transplant, to St James’ Hospital in Leeds, where the transplant took place in 1994. He would like to thank Howdens Joinery, where he works as a Kitchen Fitter, and West Riding Kidney Patients’ Association for their generous donations.
Well done Mark and we hope your medal arrives soon!
Transplant patients owe their lives to the generosity of others, who donate the ‘Gift of Life’. Please help to raise public awareness about transplantation and sign up on the Organ Donor register. To register, and for more information please go to www.organdonation.nhs.uk, or contact the NHS Organ Donor Line on 0300 123 23 23