Suffolk kidney patient to compete at Transplant Games

Iain Maxwell from Suffolk is to compete in the World Transplant Games in South Africa this summer just three years after having a kidney transplant. Iain is taking part in ITV's From The Heart campaign which aims to encourage more people to sign up to the Organ Donor Register.

Iain was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease in 2008. Doctors said it had probably been present for 12-13 years but Iain hadn't had any symptoms. In January 2010 he was put on the transplant list and was told that such was the shortage of organs he might have to wait to up to five years for an operation.

In the event he was a called about a transplant within weeks and was back at work within months.

He had his operation at Addenbrooke's in Cambridge where he joined the hospitals transplant golf team. Last year he took part in the British Transplant Games in Medway, Kent and won a bronze medal.

Iain said he was very lucky to get a transplant so quickly so he avoided going onto dialysis.

He said the British Transplant Games was an emotional event.

"Meeting donor families were important because without donor families who allow transplants to happen then I wouldn't be sitting here now. It was very inspirational, vey humble, very moving."

Iain will be part of the British team at the World Transplant Games in Durban, South Africa this summer.

For more information about ITV's From The Heart campaign or how to sign up to the Organ Transplant Register - click here.