THIS summer has been a season of medals, personal bests and moving sporting stories but Soham man Colin Aspland has conquered more odds than most.

Colin returned home triumphant having won a bronze medal in snooker and a silver medal in softball at the Westfield Health British Transplant Games in Medway, Kent, almost 13 years after having a life-saving liver transplant.

The 65-year-old competed as a member of the Addenbrooke’s Transplant Team at the games, which this year saw more than 500 inspiring athletes aged from two to 82 compete in 14 sports.

The Westfield Health British Transplant Games are organised on behalf of the charity Transplant Sport UK (TSUK) and are one of the UK’s biggest annual multi-sport events. This year’s games consisted of events ranging from archery to tennis and swimming to track and field, showcasing the benefits of transplantation and the healthy, active lives many patients now lead.

The games are intended to encourage people to sign up to the NHS Organ Donor Register and discuss their wishes with their families. There are currently more than 7,500 people in need of a transplant, but only 28 per cent of the public are signed up to the register.

Lynne Holt, from TSUK, said: “The 2012 Westfield Health British Transplant Games were a fantastic success in what has been a year of incredible sporting action. All of the athletes’ stories are truly inspirational and everyone who participated in the games should be proud of what they have achieved.

“The games are vitally important as they raise awareness of the NHS Organ Donor Register and the difference becoming a donor can make.”