A DETERMINED teenager who has battled a rare cancer won two gold medals at the British Transplant Games.

Bramble Johnson ran through the pain of a leg injury to win the 100 metre sprint and also triumphed over an obstacle course. He also picked up medals in swimming events.

The 14-year-old Patcham High School pupil said he had an amazing three days competing, and now hopes to qualify for the World Transplant Games next year.

When he was just eight months old he needed a liver transplant as he had a rare disease. His mum Frithe Johnson donated a part of her liver to save him as there were not enough organs on the donation register available.

Then when Bramble was three, he was diagnosed with a blood cancer that affects transplant recipients, caused by the medicine used to make sure his body would accept the new liver. He endured intensive chemotherapy for five months at the Royal Marsden Hospital in London as a child, and still has regular health checks.

But earlier this month he competed at the games in Birmingham along with Frithe, and was even presented with a trophy for his outstanding contribution to his team.

He said: “It was an amazing and fun three days at the games in Birmingham. It’s good to see all my transplant friends from all over the UK.

“I’m really glad to be alive thanks to my mum Frithe who is a live donor. I’d like to say a special thanks to all donors from the donor register and their families. Without them the games wouldn’t be possible.

“I’m hoping to qualify for the World Transplant Games in Newcastle next year and I’m really looking forward to the next British Games in Newport.”

For mum Frithe, Bramble’s success has been remarkable, as he usually enjoys being a typical teenager playing on his Xbox.

She said: “I could see the effort he put in and the amount of drive he showed to do his best for the team, so I’m very proud of him.

“Everyone who is there shares a camaraderie and similar experience. It can be really isolating for a child, and Bramble has had so many life-threatening illnesses. At the event, you see people who would be dead if they had not had a transplant.”