A YATE woman who literally runs for her life has won two gold medals at the World Transplant Games.

Ruth Medcroft, who had a kidney transplant seven years ago, took gold in the race walk and won a team gold in athletics at the games for transplant patients in Argentina.

The 37-year-old, whose trip to the international championships was partly funded by Yate Rotary Club, said her medal haul, which also includes two silvers in the 5km and 1,500metre events, was a celebration of her recovery.

“I was selected to compete for GB at the World Transplant Games 2015 in Argentina,” she said.

“I competed in the 5km road race, and 1,500metre track, achieving silver medals in both for my category and personal bests in both.

“I came fourth in the 400metres and also came first in the race walk and won another gold in the ladies athletics team category.

“I compete partly to celebrate how far I've come, and partly for my donor, to celebrate the selfless gift they gave to me.”

For Ruth, who suffered kidney problems for years before her transplant, running has helped her recovery.

“I knew from an early age that my kidneys weren't as good as everyone else's,” she said.

“It didn't seem to matter when I was little and by the time I'd grown up, married and had my daughter I'd almost forgotten that there was a problem - routine check-ups were just a part of my life.

“In my early twenties, however, I started feeling unwell and tests showed that my kidney function was now seriously impaired. I was told I would need dialysis by the end of 2003, but I took up running, which I'd always loved at school, and managed to stave off dialysis until the end of 2006.

“It wasn't a smooth ride but fortunately less than two years after I first had dialysis I got the call on August 13, 2008. I tried not to get too excited, just in case it wasn't a match, but later that day I went down for surgery and came back with a new kidney.”

She said following the surgery, keeping fit became more important than ever.

Ruth, who lives in Yate with her husband Dave and daughter Isobel, 18, took part in her first transplant games in Coventry in 2009 and was then selected for this year’s world games. Yate Rotary Club donated £500 to help send her to the games.

David Picton, from the club, said Rotarians were thrilled at her win.