Granny wins sports gold medals

The 66-year-old from Wychwood Close, Carterton, has just won an incredible five gold medals at the European Heart and Lung Transplant Games, having had a heart transplant 17 years ago.

The games, this year in Vichy, France, are held every two years.

The retired receptionist won medals in both swimming and table tennis.

She said: "I had hoped that I might win, but when I did I just felt elated.

"I worked very hard for the games. I train with my husband for at least an hour every day at Carterton or Witney pool."

Mrs Edwards is no stranger to success.

This was her fifth European Games - having competed at 25 World, British and European Transplant Championships, winning about 80 medals.

She said: "I can't believe I've got someone else's heart inside me and I'm winning gold medals. It's a massive gift I've been given."

Three months after her transplant, the grandmother-of-five was able to pick up sports where she left off and take up table table tennis, which she played with her husband Pete.

She said: "I've had a complete new lease of life in the last 17 years, it has been completely different. It's like I've had two lives."

Now Mrs Edwards said her foremost concern was to highlight the growing need for organ donors.

She added: "A third of people waiting for transplants die before they get one.

"I wanted to show through sport how beneficial organ donation can be, and try to encourage more people to sign on to the organ donor register.

"I was really ill before I had my transplant. The last six months walking up the stairs was like walking up Mount Everest."

Mrs Edwards was one of 500 competitors at the games, and has previously taken part in the transplant games in Thailand, Canada and Japan.

She said: "I've made an amazing lot of friends, both from Great Britain and across Europe.

"Next month I've got the British Games in Sheffield and from there, I hope to qualify for the World Transplant Games on the Gold Coast, Australia, next year."