A BASINGSTOKE man will compete in the British Transplant Games, just one week before the first anniversary of his kidney transplant.

Tony Kay, from South Ham, will participate in the annual games, which sees teams from hospitals compete to raise awareness for organ donation.

The 29-year-old had an organ transplant on August 12, last year, after being diagnosed with kidney failure in January 2016. 

He said: "I didn't know there was a problem until I felt quite unwell in the town centre, and one of my friends helped me to medical attention.

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Basingstoke Gazette: Tony Kay (left) and Scott Malcolmson (right)

"I was in hospital for a week, and then found out I had Stage 5 kidney failure." 

He added that his body "never does anything half measure" and that through the ordeal, he "found out the hard way that my body is incredible, and it works".

Tony started running whilst going through dialysis, a procedure to remove waste products and excess fluid from the blood, and trained with friend Scott Malcolmson, taking on long-distance running events including half marathons.

Tony's fast recovery, which saw him up on his feet just a day after the transplant, and dedication to fitness, saw him earn the name 'Iron Kidney' amongst friends and supporters, who keep up with his journey on the Facebook page, Tony's Corner.

"I like to make people understand why the whole donation process is so important as without an organ I'd be dead," he continued. 

"Not everyone is this lucky, I get to run because someone has lost their life so I can get to live a new one."

Tony received the phone call informing him of his donation at 3am on August 12 but did not know any information about his donor, except that he was of a similar age, and had sadly died.

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Tony said: "Everybody wants gifts, but the biggest gift I have ever had, and will ever have is a new organ.

"Someone died for that, why would I go out of my way to damage something so precious."

Before his battle with kidney failure left Tony unable to work, he had a job at the railway station in Basingstoke, operating the ticket barriers for passengers, and hopes to get back into it.

"It was about eight years, a long, and very hard road for me, but it was worse for my family and friends who had to watch me go through it all. Nothing was going to help except a donation.

"It's my first year of the games, so I'm nervous and very excited at the same time. It will give me the chance to socialise with people who will understand."

Tony will compete at the games, in Nottingham, from August 1 to August 4, along with a team of other transplant receivers at the Queen Alexandra Hospital, Portsmouth.

To follow Tony's journey, visit facebook.com/Tonychallenges.