She’s been at every World Transplant Games since age five. And tomorrow, Liver Specialist Nurse, Caroline Winkley’s daughter Ava will once again represent Great Britain across the other side of the world in Perth, Australia, in her new swimming kit funded by CHFT’s Organ Donation Committee.

Jayne Greenhalgh, Specialist Nurse from NHS Blood and Transplant said: “Ava has achieved so much since having her transplant as a young child, which is testament to the long term impact organ donation has, not only on the person having the transplant, but also their family, friends and the wider community.

“This is a fabulous opportunity that Ava wouldn’t have had without the generosity of those who give this amazing gift of life to others.

“The Organ Donation Committee at CHFT is very proud to be able to support Ava and her family and wish her all the best in her races on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week.”

Ava, now 15,  said: “I want to make my donor family proud. I’m really excited to represent my country and want to thank the committee for the kit, especially as my family has to pay for the trip. I’ll try not to get too many stains on it!”

Ava had a liver transplant in 2013 when she was just five years old, in a nine-hour operation.  At just seven months old she was diagnosed with ornithine transcarbamylase (OTC) deficiency, which means her body builds dangerous levels of ammonia that needed constant monitoring and a new liver was the only solution.

She's been at every Transplant Games since, apart from during the pandemic.