Johns gets Great Britain call

Alison Johns has high hopes of defending her world champion status after being selected to represent Great Britain and Northern Ireland for her third 2019 World Transplant Games.

Johns, who is a PGA teaching professional at Woodhall Spa, The National Golf Centre in Lincolnshire, won gold in her age group at the 2017 Games, which were held in Malaga, Spain.

Great Britain and Northern Ireland finished top of the medal table two years ago and will boast a team of more than 300 transplant athletes in Newcastle next August, including around 40 children.

The International Olympic Committee supports the World Transplant Games, which represents the largest organ donor awareness event in the world, featuring over 1,000 transplant athletes from 70 countries, competing in 17 sporting events.

“I’m so proud to be representing GB again,” said Johns. “These games are all about awareness for the donor register and to show people that there is still a good life you can live after a transplant. Also without my donor and family I would not be here today.”

Johns’ story began in December 2008 when she suffered from acute liver failure. Within six weeks the 48-year-old was told by doctors that without a liver transplant, she would die.

Fortunately, Johns was moved to the top of the donor list and was given a life-saving transplant. She is now urging more people to register to become organ donors.

“Around 6,000 people in the UK are waiting for a life-saving organ transplant,” Johns added. “With three people dying each day in need of an organ. That’s why it is so important for people who have not already signed up to the NHS Organ Donor Register to think about doing so.”