A KENDAL-based physio is using her expertise to help Team GB at the British Transplant Games in Newcastle.

Alison Bloxham, owner and Practice Principal at Kendal Physiotherapy Centre, heads the Physio volunteer team at the games and headed to Gateshead yesterday (Wednesday) to co-ordinate the dozen volunteers over the course of the next four days.

Approximately 900 athletes, all of whom have had life-saving organ transplants, will celebrate their Gift of Life by competing in a variety of different sports in some of the region’s best sporting venues such as Gateshead International Stadium and Sport Central at Northumbria University.

"These next few weeks will be a hectic time for those of us involved with Transplant Sport but we will see the best of competition in the best spirit of sport – and all whilst on drugs," she said. "In fact the only qualification for taking part in the Games is that the athletes must be on banned drugs! It is a wonderful celebration of life and everyone taking part is a winner before they even compete. It never fails to inspire."

The British Transplant Games, developed by Transplant Surgeon Maurice Slapack, have been staged annually since 1978 and were originally an international event welcoming teams from France, Greece and even the USA.

Now they see teams from hospitals across the UK come together to compete annually while a separate World Transplant Games, which takes place biannually, allows competitors from over 50 countries to compete.

This year they are taking place in Mar Del Plata, Argentina from August 23-30, involving around 1,000 competitors from over 50 countries.

During a week of intense competition in a variety of different sports, the UK Team will aim to top the medal table once again - something they have done at every World Games since its inception - and Alison will also be part of that team.