EMMA Barnes has a very special reason for going for gold this month after selection for Great Britain in the badminton squad for the World Transplant Games.

Former Castle School, Thornbury, student Emma had a life-saving liver transplant when she was 19 and will be representing her country in Spain.

But she will not just be playing in the doubles and mixed doubles tournaments for herself but is dedicating it to the person who saved her life.

Emma was diagnosed with an extremely rare cancer of the liver when she was 18 and told that she would need to have a transplant to save her life.

She was referred to Kings College Hospital, London, which has a specialist liver unit and placed on the transplant waiting list.

That wait was for eight-and-a-half months before a suitable liver became available but, during her waiting time, Emma became much sicker.

Eventually,¬ she had her life-saving operation in September 2013 – and has returned to such good health that she is now playing badminton for her country.

She plays for Avon Jets Badminton Club and, rior to her transplant, she used to play tennis regularly.

But when she took part in her first British Transplant Games two years ago, she decided to try badminton.

Emma found a new niche and is so good at badminton that she won a gold medal in last year's British Transplant Games.

She found out last September that she had been selected for the World Transplant Games and has been in rigorous training for the trip of a lifetime to play ever since.

The 23-year-old flies out to Malaga on June 23 with competition starting two days later.

Emma said: “I am really excited to be taking part in my first ever World Transplant Games and extremely proud to be representing my country.

“I am looking forward to meeting lots of other athletes from different countries from around the world who have all had transplants like me.

“I will be competing in female doubles and mixed doubles. I have been training hard leading up to the Games by playing badminton three times a week and going to the gym and running in between. “Yet the most important thing about the Games is about celebrating life and being thankful to our donors.

“I know that without my amazing organ donor, none of this would be possible and I am forever grateful to the donor for saving my life.”

The World Transplant Games will see Emma among hundreds of athletes from sixty different countries It takes place every two years and is backed by the International Olympic Committee.

The Great Britain team which Emma is part of is their largest ever yet assembled for the Games, comprising two hundred transplant athletes.

As well as a week of sport, it will be the biggest organ donation awareness event in the world. Emma will be playing her part by joining a donor recognition walk while she is there.

* To go on the NHS Organ Donor Register, telephone 0300 123 23 23, or go to www.organdonation.nhs.uk to join online to help critically ill people like Emma.

Most importantly, when you register, discuss your wishes with family and friends.

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