A STOURBRIDGE youngster is hoping to help Birmingham Children's Hospital defend its 18-year winning title at the national Transplant Games.

Withymoor Primary School pupil Kristof Polgar, 7, could not walk four years ago, but following a liver transplant he is now a Red 1 rated tennis player.

Kristof will be one of 39 transplant patients from the children’s hospital to show their illnesses are no barrier as they take part in the games at Newcastle Gateshead, between Thursday (July 30) and Sunday (August 2).

The team of children and young people – a mixture of liver, kidney and intestinal transplant patients – have been training hard to defend the hospital’s 18-year run as children’s champions at the games, including last year’s title of 'best liver team'.

Kristof, who attends Staffordshire county tennis training sessions at Tipton Sports Academy, will be competing in his third games.

Last year, despite being the youngest in his category, he won a gold medal in both badminton and table tennis and this year he will compete in table tennis, badminton, long jump and 50m running.

Sara Clarke, senior dietitian and Transplant Games team manager at Birmingham Children’s Hospital, said: “Many of our team members compete at the games year after year, and we are very sad when they reach 18 and have to move to the adult teams.

“It is a fantastic event enjoyed by everyone and it is so beneficial for all our transplant patients to meet each other and share their experiences of the transplant journey.

“The games are also an opportunity to promote the success of transplantation and we hope that this encourages more people to join the donor register.”

The games have been organised by Transplant Sport since 1978 and now attract around 1,000 competitors - both adults and children – every year.

The 170 strong Birmingham Children’s Hospital team, sponsored by the hospital’s charity and the Johnnie Johnson Trust, is one of the biggest, with 39 competitors and 131 family members, supporters and volunteers.