Gold winner welcomes decision to host British Transplant event
A BIRMINGHAM athlete who was the first person to run a marathon after a transplant has praised the decision to bring British Transplant Games to his home city this August.
Peter Frazier, from Hall Green, suffered renal failure in his 20s and endured six years of dialysis before having a kidney transplant in 1978. Just three years later he completed the London Marathon, becoming the first post-transplantee to do so.
He went on to win two gold medals at the World Transplant Games, representing team GB.
“After six years of renal dialysis, my life was changed,” said Mr Frazier, whose family ran the Marston Green Tavern when he was growing up in Birmingham.
“I went from being totally inactive to virtually being able to take part in any sport. The British Transplant Games gave me the opportunity to do this. The Games provides an excellent platform for promoting organ donation, which people like myself have benefited from greatly. I was the first transplantee to successfully complete a marathon in 1981, and have run other marathons, including the London Marathon twice since.”
Now Mr Frazier, who was a 2012 Olympic torch bearer, is thrilled that Birmingham will be hosting the games this summer for the first time in 19 years.
With more than 1,000 competitors taking part in 24 different sports, the August 2-5 games held at the University of Birmingham is expected to draw 2,500 visitors.
Mr Frazier added: “Everyone competing in the Westfield Health British Transplant Games is a winner and I hope that through their participation, this year’s competitors will be sending the message that transplants do transform lives.”