SPREYTON resident Wendy Sincock has been selected for a second time to represent her country at the World Transplant Games four years after she came back from the brink of death.
Wendy was given a hero?s welcome when she returned victorious from the Games in Japan in 2001 with three silver and three bronze medals and next July she will be travelling to France to compete.
Continued success at the British Transplant Games and her high level of fitness made Wendy a real contender for the British team but she said she was unsure if she had made it this time.
?The letter from the Transplant Sports Association of Great Britain usually comes in October so when it got to November I thought I had not been selected,? she said.
?Then one day recently the letter arrived and I was over the moon.
?It?s wonderful to be going again because not only is it a boost for me but it shows everybody I am well and gives hope to other people who are having, or waiting, for a transplant.?
Wendy was diagnosed with chronic kidney failure in 1998 and her only hope of survival was a kidney transplant.
At the time she could barely walk up the street without assistance but that all changed after the autumn of that year when she received a new kidney.
It was a case of life beginning at 40 for the hairdresser who has since opened her own salon and achieved amazing feats in the world of athletics.
Wendy has also dedicated herself to raising awareness of organ donation and raising funds for charity.
To take part in next year?s games Wendy needs to find nearly £1,000 which she hopes to do through fundraising events and local donations. She also needs to maintain a strong level of fitness.
The Exeter and District Transplant Team manager said she had suffered some problems with her hip which was the effect of drugs she was on as a a result of the transplant.
?Luckily this will not affect my performance in the pool and I plan to take part in the backstroke, front crawl, freestyle and medley again this time,? she said.
Wendy is also hoping she will compete in the cycling event after a surprise silver medal at the British Transplant Games in Loughborough this year, where she was the first ever competitor to win five medals in five events.
?I took up cycling last year because my hip prevented me from entering the running events which I had had success in,? she added.
?It was amazing to get a silver medal and as a team we came back with the best ever tally ? 12 medals.?
Over 50 countries and more than 1,000 transplantees will be competing for medals at the World Transplant Games in France and the British team will be hoping to match their success at the 2001 games where they came top of the medal tree.
If anyone wants to help Wendy get to the games next year they can call her on 01647 231597.
l Wendy Sincock with her husband John and mother Barbara Bridgewater after her triumphant return from the World Transplant Games in 2001.
Picture by Ian Snell