Heart transplant patient from Norfolk living 'completely different' life through British Transplant Games
The annual event takes place in Oxford from today
A local man who had a heart transplant tells us how the British Transplant Games have changed the way he lives.
Darren Utting- from Wymondham- took part in last year's Games, which aims to celebrate life through sport and the importance of physical activity to improve the health of transplant recipients.
"Being around people so positive having come through so much and participating in friendly events, meeting people who've taken part in the European and World Games, I came away completely different," he said.
What to expect from the Games
This year's event takes place in Oxford from today until Sunday, August 3, with almost 1,000 participants expected across 26 different sports.
Organisers say more than £303,000 has been raised by local stakeholders for the Games, 75% of the total funding for the event.
The first Games - known as the 'Transplant Olympics' - took place in Portsmouth in 1978, and has since been held in a different UK city each year.
Games is chance to 'transform someone else's life'
Darren - from Wymondham in Norfolk - got involved in last year's event in Nottingham, eight months after completing his DCDC heart transplant at Royal Papworth Hospital in Cambridge.
He's since gone onto to take part in other events including Run Norwich 10k, as well as raising more than £1,700 for the Royal Papworth Charity.
"I was able to do it in August 2024 and the people I met and what you see is so incredible," Darren said.
"I think the Games reinforces the importance of considering donation of organs; you can live your life, but you have the opportunity to pass that on and transform someone else's life."
NHS data shows the North West region has the greatest number of organ donations on average per year with around 162, followed by the East of England (150) and London (146).
Around 4,600 organ transplants are performed each year in the UK.