A DENBIGHSHIRE golfer can now plan to make it a hat-trick of global golds!
Ruthin-Pwllglas Golf Club member Brenda Roberts has been selected as part of the British team for next year's World Transplant Games in Perth, Australia.
Brenda, who is 70, gained selection after winning the golf competition at the British Transplant Games in Leeds over the summer.
"I'm going for a hat-trick of golds," said Brenda, who triumphed in previous world games in Argentina and Malaga.
She will be one of only eight golfers representing Britain at the World Transplant Games, which will run in Perth between April 15 and 21, 2023.
Back in September 2012, Brenda underwent a liver transplant at St James' Teaching Hospital in Leeds, saying it saved her life in more ways than one.
"I was fit, working full time and playing golf when my routine blood test results came back showing that there was a problem," she said.
"Following further tests it showed that my liver was now deteriorating rapidly and only a transplant could save me.
"I'd just celebrated my 60th birthday and, as soon as I hit that milestone, I went downhill fast.
"I was hospitalised in St James’ Teaching Hospital in Leeds and was told I wouldn't be leaving without a transplant."
A two-day assessment in Leeds in May 2012 resulted in the diagnosis of primary billiary cirrosis.
She was placed on the transplant list in July and underwent her transplant two months later.
READ MORE: 'Life after transplant is good' for Ruthin golfer Brenda
Brenda and her sister Wendy, keen sewers and knitters, will be holding a fundraising sale at Llanbenwch caravan park, in Llanfair DC, this Sunday, November 27 (10am-4pm).
This will be part of a fair at the caravan park, with a number of other stalls in attendance.
One of the largest teams in the world will be representing Great Britain and Northern Ireland at next April's games.
The team has 150 transplant athletes, including 10 juniors, six donor and live donors and more than 50+ supporters.
Some 40 per cent of the team are new members and all the transplant athletes have been selected following their success at this year’s British Transplant Games and the European Transplant Games, hosted in Oxford.
The World Transplant Games, which works in partnership with the charity Transplant Sport, usually take place every two years and are supported by the International Olympic Committee.
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the last time the games took place was 2019 in Newcastle.
The sporting event represents the largest organ donor awareness event in the world, featuring a week of 17 sporting events.
Team GB will join over 1,000 other transplant athletes and live donors from 60 countries across the globe.
Team manager Lynne Holt said: “We are delighted to be demonstrating the benefits of transplantation.
"We aim to exceed the gold medals won at the 2019 World Transplant Games in Newcastle and to win the trophy for the best team.
"These Games certainly deserve the same recognition as the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
“It is always a little daunting competing at the World Transplant Games, but with the help of those who have been before, together with the coaches, captains, management, medical and physio teams, the experience will be a rewarding one for all involved."
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