Croydon ambulance woman goes for gold

Emergency Medical Technician Helen Hayton, from Croydon represented Great Britain at the 17th World Transplant Games this summer. Helen was hoping to do her best to win medals in the swimming pool and on the track in August on Australia's Gold Coast. It'll be the fourth time she's represented her country in the tournament after taking part in France in 2003, in Canada in 2005 and in Thailand two years ago.

Helen qualified for the Games after having a kidney transplant nine years ago at St Helier Hospital and she took part in the 50m, 100m and 200m freestyle and the 50m backstroke in the pool, as well as the 800m on the track when the tournament got underway on 22 August.

Before Helen left, she said: "It'll be tough in Australia because the Aussies have got a strong swimming team and being the host nation they'll have a big squad. I'll give it my best shot though and I usually do pretty well so I'm quietly confident."

The Games are open to anyone who has had a transplant and date back to 1978 when the inaugural event was held in Portsmouth. Helen added: "It's all about raising awareness around organ donation and encouraging people to talk about their wishes with family and friends. I was very lucky because my twin brother was willing to donate a kidney but there are thousands of people who have to wait on the transplant waiting list. "I was never really a sporty person before I had the transplant and I started swimming and running just to keep myself healthy. I suppose one thing led to another and after competing in the British Transplant Games I was asked to represent my country at a higher level."

The Games have gone from strength to strength in recent years with over 1,000 competitors taking part in 2007. As well as athletics and swimming other events on the programme include badminton, cycling, golf, shooting, squash and tennis.