A COVENTRY university graduate who received a ‘life-changing’ organ transplant before setting world sporting records hopes to help show the benefits of organ donations as he prepares to compete in two competitions when the British Transplant Games comes to the city in July.
Luke Alexander, who graduated last summer with a degree in Media Production, is looking to compete in swimming and sprint events at the games.
Before receiving a liver transplant in 2012, Luke struggled for fitness and became tired very quickly.
The 22-year-old has since competed in the World Transplant Games in Malaga and Newcastle, setting a cycling time trial world record for the event.
His other notable achievements include trekking in the Himalayas and competing at several British Transplant Games.
Luke, looking to add to that list in July, said: “None of my achievements and experiences would have been possible without my transplant – it has been life-changing.
“I’m very excited about competing in Coventry, it’ll be great to show the city the benefits of organ donation and I think the games will have such a great atmosphere in the city, it’s a place with such an amazing community feel.”
Coventry’s British Transplant Games was originally scheduled to take place in 2020 but was cancelled due to the pandemic and the city previously held the event in 2009.
The games are expected to attract around 2,500 participants to the city, with athletes aged between three to over 80 representing more than 50 UK-wide hospital teams.
The Games, now in its 45th year, aim to raise awareness of the life-saving benefits of organ donation while encouraging organ recipients to stay active afterwards.
A new COxNet scheme has recently been developed allowing kidney transplant patients in Coventry and Oxford to travel between the two cities for surgeries.
This allows Coventry patients to benefit from Oxford’s shorter waiting times – COxNET has already resulted in 150 extra kidney transplant operations.
Visit organdonation.nhs.uk to find out more about organ donation.
