A SPORTS-mad man whose life was saved when he received a new kidney is hoping to strike gold at the GB Transplant Games on Thursday, July 30.

Steve Barker hopes to go one better at the tournament in Newcastle than last year, when he won silver in lawn bowls in the annual competition.

Steve, aged 68, of Hither Mead, Bishops Lydeard, is also competing in the fishing and darts and hopes to add to his medal haul of fishing gold, and bronze in table tennis and darts, as well as the bowls silver.

“I’ve been going to the games since 2002 and really enjoy the competitiveness,” said Steve, a retired program analyst for British Steel.

“My kidney transplant was a life saver. It made me realise how precious life is and gave me the chance to see my two granddaughters (aged 12 and six) growing up.

“Without the operation I wouldn’t be here now. It’s kept me going.”

Steve, who is married to Carol and has a daughter, was born with polycystic disease – cysts on the kidneys which can lead to organ failure in adulthood – and needed dialysis from 1997 until he received a new kidney 18 years ago.

“I’m eternally grateful and I’m in good health for someone of 68 – hopefully good enough to win some more medals,” he added.

*NHS Blood and Transplant is urging more people in Somerset to join the organ donor register after figures showing 41 people in the county have died waiting for a transplant in the last five years, while 130 are currently on the waiting list.

And last year 33 lives were saved or improved in Somerset thanks to deceased donation, while 14 benefited from a living donor transplant of a kidney or part of their liver.

To join the NHS Organ Donor Register visit www.organdonation.nhs.uk or call 0300-1232323.