EVERY athlete understands the struggle of competing through or after a bad injury.
But triple medal winner, Helen Wilson, had bigger issues to face and overcome than most sports stars.
Helen underwent a lifesaving kidney and liver transplant to clinch gold and silver in one of the world’s toughest competitions.
She picked up the medals as part of Team Great Britain and Northern Ireland at the World Transplant Games in Perth, Australia earlier this year.
Now she has been nominated for another award – Sportsperson of the Year in the inaugural Wokingham Community Awards.
Louise Jedras who put Helen forward for the title, described her as “a complete inspiration.”
“In my job as a Community Champion at Tesco in Wokingham, I have met many amazing people,” she explained.
“However, Helen is an absolute inspiration. She has faced and overcome so many difficulties regarding her health but she has fought on with courage and determination.
“Through it all, Helen has kept up her spirits as well as those who know her and are close to her.”
At the Transplant Games, Helen won gold in discus which means she became the world champion in her age group and added to that with silver medals in both javelin and shot put.
Afterwards, she paid tribute to her brother Steve who donated his kidney to her after she was diagnosed with polycystic kidney disease in 2005.
Helen became ill again in 2013 with polycystic liver disease and was fortunate to receive a new liver from a donor family which saved her life.
She has competed at six British Transplant Games, one European Transplant Games and two World Transplant Games since 2015.
She now has her sights set on competing at the World Games in Germany, 2025.
Added Louise: “I would love to see Helen visit schools to talk to pupils about overcoming so-called barriers in life like she has.
“She makes you feel better just talking to you and I know she would inspire young people to look beyond their troubles and never give up.”
