More medals for Matthew

9:20pm Thursday 21st August 2008

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GOLDEN boy Matthew Fairs has gone bronze this summer.

The Swindon teenager, who had a heart transplant five years ago, has continued to dazzle with his sporting prowess after scooping bronze at this year’s Transplant Games in Sheffield – 12 months ago Matthew landed the gold.

He competed in the games earlier this month, on behalf of the Great Ormond Street Hospital team for the final time before he moves into adult competition next year.

Matthew, 17, from Penhill, said: “It’s all right, it’s better than nothing though I should have won really.”

His mother Angela, 51, who was at the games with his sister Vicky, said: “I’m very proud and it was a really good five days.

“I said just do your best and he went on and played really well.”

Matthew won the medals in snooker and table tennis, but also did well in the badminton and darts competitions.

The teenager was diagnosed with Burkitt’s Lymphoma at three years old, then he was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy, a disease which affects the function of the heart.

Matthew eventually had a heart transplant in December 2003 and spent Christmas in Great Ormond Street Hospital, in London.

He has since competed in the Transplant Games four times in and won last year’s snooker in Edinburgh.

Angela said the two boys who came ahead of Matthew in the table tennis were both professionals.

“He’s a bit down-hearted because he didn’t get the gold, but I say it doesn’t matter,” she said.

“He said ‘but mum, I got a gold last year’, but that’s just the way it goes.”

The Great Ormond Street Hospital team did well, with 18 medals overall between eight people.

“I enjoy it every time I go,” said Matthew. “I think taking part is important, win or lose.”

Matthew was featured as part of the Advertiser’s Gift Of Life Initiative earlier this year and has backed the idea.

Our drive is aimed at getting more people to sign up as blood, organ and bone marrow donors.

Matthew said his transplant had changed his attitude to sport and although he was reasonably fit beforehand now he did not have to worry about exerting himself.

Angela said before Matthew’s transplant she could never have imagined his progress now.

“It happened so quickly, we knew Matty had a bad heart because he had the cardiomypathy, but he fell ill at 13,” she said.

“Now he doesn’t worry about doing things, he just does so much.”