Young Woodhall Spa athlete wins five gold medals at British Transplant Games

Declan Bennett, 17, won five gold medals at the games in Liverpool including the swimming 50m and 100M freestyle, 50m butterfly, running 100m and 200m track.

On top of winning the medals, Declan was also presented with the ‘Westfield Health British Transplant Games Best 15-17 Athlete’ award.

“It is an honour to have received this award” explained Declan. “I also won the same prize two years ago, but unfortunately I wasn’t there to collect the award and only got sent a certificate.”

At a young age, Declan found out that he had chronic renal failure, a condition that meant he needed a kidney transplant at the age of seven, however this hasn’t held him back.

Declan has now graduated from the junior section and has his sights set on competing at the 21st World Transplant Games inn Malaga, Spain next year.

For more information about organ donation, visit www.organdonation.nhs.uk, follow @NHSOrganDonor on Twitter or search #TimeToSign