A team of 13 young transplant patients treated at Southampton Children’s Hospital are hoping to compete at the British Transplant Games 2024. 

But they need your help going for gold, aiming to raise a further £9,000 by next month to support their efforts. 

The five to 17-year-old competitors, who all received life-saving treatment at SCH’s specialist nephrology unit, make up Team Southampton, along with their parents, siblings, medical staff and other supporters.

(Image: Southampton Hospitals Charity)

READ MORE: See the smiling faces as 2,500 gradudate from Solent University

Among them is nine-year-old Kian Channing. Born with bilateral renal dysplasia, Kian underwent a kidney transplant in January 2023. He participated in the 2023 Transplant Games but in February of this year he was diagnosed with post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD), a type of cancer that sometimes develops in people who have had a transplant and take medicines to suppress their immune system.

After receiving four rounds of chemotherapy, Kian is now back on the road to recovery and looking forward to retaining his gold medal at this year’s games.

Mum, Kirsty Channing, from Jersey, said “We’re hoping Kian is going to be well enough to go again this year as he had such a great time last year and has been really looking forward to it.

“At school, Kian struggles to keep up with his peers when it comes to sports, the Transplant Games brings these transplant kids together and puts them on a level playing field where they can enjoy sports and feel normal. Here they are just kids for once, not patients.”

(Image: Southampton Hospitals Charity)

It costs approximately £2,000 to send a child and their family members to the games, covering their kit, travel, accommodation and food.

So far, the team have raised £16,000 to help fund the trip, including a generous donation of £5,000 from Kidney Care UK.

Now in its 46th year, the Transplant Games will run from August 1 to 4 in Nottingham. This year’s event is expected to attract more than 1,000 athletes who will compete in over 25 sporting events including track and field, ping-pong, badminton, and volleyball.

The group will also use their participation as a platform to raise awareness of the NHS organ donor register.

To sponsor them, visit southamptonhospitalscharity.org/southampton-childrens-hospital/the-british-transplant-games-2024/