A MAN who was given two years to live because of an enlarged heart is lacing up his trainers and pounding the pavements ahead of a 1500m race and a 5k mini marathon in the British Transplant Games.

Ron Carter, 67 will also take part in tennis, table tennis and soft cricket at the four-day event in Liverpool at the end of the month.

His wife, Jenny, 66 will be supporting by playing netball.

It was only by chance the seemingly fit and healthy grandfather-of-three discovered something was wrong when he became breathless walking up three flights of stairs while working in Sweden.

Eight years ago Ron's life was saved when a heart matching his blood type became available through a donor.

The heart was flown in a ‘beating box’ from Belfast to Papworth Hospital in Cambridge where Ron underwent heart transplant surgery with his family anxiously waiting outside. The operation was filmed by Channel 5 for a documentary.

Now, almost 3,000 days, later Ron is healthy and happy and can do what almost anyone else can - including taking on the sporting challenge at the end of the month.

The experience made Ron of Helmsdale, Haydon Wick, acutely aware of the importance of signing up to the National Organ Donation and Transplantation scheme.

He said: “What I always ask is if you needed a heart would you take one? If you were not prepared to give one should you take it before someone else who is?”

Although these days Ron is only allowed one unit of alcohol a day and has to avoid raw fish and greasy burgers he admits it’s a very small price to pay for being alive.

“You never forget the day,” he said, recalling his transplant.

“It’s all been good. Two weeks after the transplant I was home.

“I take tablets every day but that’s no bother. My immune system is lower than most people to stop the heart being rejected but how I see it is that it will be 3,000 days since the transplant in a couple of weeks –that's 3,000 extra days I’ve been alive.”

When Ron and Jenny head to the Echo Arena in Liverpool to take part in the games they will be joining others who have received new lungs, hearts and other organs.

Held annually since 1978, the games promote the benefits of transplantation, the desperate need for organ donors and celebrate the many incredible achievements of transplant athletes.

People can also see first-hand the people who may not be alive if it had not been for their donors.

“I have no idea what I’ve got myself in for,” said Ron, who used to work as a supply chain manager for Becton Dickinson medical factory in Faraday Road.

""I will be representing Papworth Hospital against other organ transplant centres like Addenbrooke's, Harefield and Liverpool. There is a friendly rivalry between these centres.

“I might make a fool of myself and be at the back and have people clapping for me out of pity, but it is to raise awareness of people saving others by donating organs."