A COURAGEOUS athlete who can only breathe, thanks to a gift from a stranger, is competing today in the Westfield Health British Transplant Games in Belfast.

Mark Allen, aged 39, a Halton Council press officer, received a double lung transplant five years ago, but due to rejection, his lung capacity has been reduced to 22 per cent.

He will be competing in the table tennis, javelin, ball throw and 200m, from August 4 to 7.

Last year, he won a gold, silver and bronze in the European Heart and Lung Games in Sweden.

Mark, of Deirdre Avenue, Widnes, said: “I really enjoy the games.

“I really miss being fit enough to play cricket and running like is used to.

“But, for these few days, I feel like an athlete.

“Sports like table tennis and javelin I can take part on a more even footing.”

In the UK, 8,000 people are waiting for a lifesaving transplant and three die each day.

Mark, added: “Waking up with a new pair of lungs was surreal.

“At first you are very conscious of it, thinking that a dead person is helping me to breathe.

“It is fantastic that a person and their family made that decision.

“Without them, I wouldn’t be here today.”

Mark is keen to encourage people to become organ donors.

Visit www.organdonation.nhs.uk for details.

Leave your good luck message for Mark here or e-mail newsroom@worldgroup.co.uk