Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
TRANSPLANT COMEBACK IS COLE’S GOAL
Footie legend is Games ambassador & wants to compete
ANDY Cole has told of his hopes for a sporting return after his life-saving kidney transplant.
The former footie star was a key player in the Mirror’s Change the Law for Life campaign, calling for an opt-out donor system.
And he said getting a new kidney from nephew Alexander Palmer, 29, changed his outlook on life.
Andy, 46, has now been made an ambassador at the Transplant Games in Birmingham this summer – and even fancies taking part.
He said: “They asked me to be an ambassador and I said of course. This is a cause that will stay close to my heart. I have two children I want to see grow up. It does give you a different outlook on life.”
Andy, whose teams included Man Utd and Newcastle, has not played football since the op due to the risk of damage to his kidney.
But he said: “I am going to get back in the gym.
“With my sporting background I might end up winning something! I’d love to play football but I have not been given the go-ahead yet.
“But I will be involved in the Games in some capacity, it just depends on what I can do.”
The British Transplant Games are on August 2 to 5.
Anyone touched by Andy’s story can help others at kidneysforlife.org or visit organdonation.nhs.uk