STOVER Golf Club member Hayden Priscott won two medals representing Team GB at the World Transplant Games, taking place in Dresden, Germany between August 17 and 24.

Hayden, who underwent a kidney transplant in February 2024, claimed bronze in both the singles and pairs with GB smashing it overall on the golf front. They were awarded 18 medals across the sport- seven golds, four silvers and seven bronzes.

In March 2022, Hayden found out he had 25% kidney function and by the end of that year, this dropped to 12% and he was quite unwell.

Fast forward to the beginning of last year and after a lot of his family tested to see if they could be the donor, it was his brother Greg, a fellow golfer, who was a perfect match.

Returning to present day now and Hayden told the Mid-Devon Advertiser that, “The camaraderie and sense of belonging within the games is something that is truly amazing.”

He added, “I’ve often heard people refer to the Transplant community as the Transplant family and now I can see why.”

The event got underway with an “awesome” parade of nations through the city followed by the opening ceremony.

Hayden felt that it “was pretty cool, being a part of it.”

Continuing, “Once all nations were in, the last people to enter the stadium were donors and donor families, which really is an emotional thing to see.

“The biggest ovation goes to those who have given the amazing gift of life to others, sadly though, most of the time it means losing their own. Plenty of tears seeing the families walk into the stadium.”

With over 2,000 transplant patients taking part, “no one story ever sounded the same.”

All in all, “The best thing to come out of the games is the friendships, the awareness of the need for donors and the hope that it brings for better, healthier lives that transplantation can deliver to those in need.”

Congratulations go to Hayden for all he has achieved, both on and off of the golf course, as well as to his family for their support along the way.