SPORTSWOMAN and transplant patient Wendy Sincock from Spreyton has played her own part in an amazing summer of sport, clinching eleven gold medals at two events in the past month.

Wendy travelled to Zagreb to take part in the 7th European Transplant and Dialysis Games, which ran from August 18 to August 25. She competed in seven swimming events, including the 50 and 100 metres freestyle and backstroke, and won all seven.

Having competed in Zagreb, she then headed to Medway in Kent to take part in the Westfield Health British Transplant Games, running from August 23 to August 26.

Entering four swimming events there, she once again claimed gold in all four races.

Staged annually since 1978, the games encourage transplant patients to regain fitness and demonstrate the benefits of transplantation.

The Games have grown year on year after their foundation by consultant transplant surgeon Maurice Slapak.

Wendy said: 'It is marvellous to win these medals. I have been taking part in these games for 12 years and it does get harder and harder each time.

'However, being able to compete this long and the games in general show that transplantation works and you can lead a healthy and active life afterwards.

'The Olympics was so fantastic, I was glued to the television every day watching, and then these two events were in the middle of the Olympics and Paralympics, and it was great to be involved in the Transplant Games in between.

'The three sporting events show what people are capable of through dedication and hard work.'

Around 100 competitiors took part in the first games, a one day event, and it now attracts over 600 competitors. The most important message of the event is to promote the need for more people to sign up to the NHS Organ Donor Register.

Wendy was one of four competitors from the Exeter kidney unit taking part, and one of nearly 1,000 recepients of live-saving organ transplants taking part.

Wendy had a kidney transplant nearly 14 years ago, and has competed in a number of sporting events, including last year's Transplant Games in Gothenburg, where she won six medals, four of them gold.

To find out more about the NHS Organ Donor Register, visit http://www.organdonation.nhs.uk">www.organdonation.nhs.uk or call 03001 232323.