Medal for Transplant Games Athlete, a Cumbria Sport Volunteer!

3rd September 2007

A Cumbria Sport Young Volunteer competing in the World Transplant Games has won his first medal.

Daymon Johnstone, 17, of SeatonPark, took bronze for Great Britain in the squash competition, held in Bangkok, Thailand. The games, which began last Saturday, continue until Monday. Daymon will also compete for Great Britain at swimming in the 50 metre backstroke, the 100 metre sprint and French bowls. Before he left, he said: “It’s the biggest thing I’ve done in life so I’m going to give it everything for myself, my family and for all the generous people who helped me put together the £6,000 it’s costing for the trip,” he said. Pupils at his former schools, Victoria Infant and Junior in Workington, raised more than £1,000 to help Daymon pay for the trip, and Cumbria police presented him with £250. Competing as a junior at the moment, he hopes to qualify for the world games in Australia in 2009 as a senior. Daymon flew out to Thailand with his parents, Val and Keith. Last month, he competed in the British Transplant Games in Edinburgh and won gold medals at 5,000 metres and 200 metres, both on the running track and bronze for the 50 metres backstroke in the pool. Daymon, who begins a diploma course in sport and fitness at Lakes College West Cumbria next month, discovered he had sporting talent while a pupil at StainburnSchool. He was diagnosed with kidney malfunction as a child and had a transplant at Newcastle in 1996. When he returns from Bangkok, he will be taking a slide show of his experiences round local schools.