Lincolnshire teenager Declan Bennett has returned home with a sensational seven gold medals and five tournament records from the World Transplant Games in Argentina.

Named the Outstanding Junior Male of the 20th World Transplant Games in Mar del Plata, Declan won gold in the 50m, 100m and 200m freestyle, 50m butterfly and 50m breaststroke as well as in the 4x50m medley relay and 4x50m freestyle relay.

Declan, 16, from Woodhall Spa, received a living donor kidney transplant from his father Guy in 2009. The youngster is sponsored by The Elite Fish and Chip Company, who are raising awareness of organ donation throughout National Transplant Week (7th to 13th September).

Declan said: “The World Transplant Games granted me all I could have possibly wished for and more. To say I am over the moon is not enough. My aim going into these World Games was to medal in at least one event, so what I achieved was completely unexpected.”

Rachel Tweedale, from The Elite Fish and Chip Company, said: “Huge congratulations go to Declan on his outstanding effort and amazing achievement. We’re proud to sponsor Declan.

“At The Elite Fish and Chip Company, we hope that Declan’s success will inspire people to consider donating their organs.”

This year’s National Transplant Week campaign (7th to 13th September), called 7 Days to Say I Do, will encourage individuals to discuss their decision about organ donation with those closest to them.

When Declan was aged seven it was discovered that he had chronic renal failure caused by the presence of posterior urethral valves. The donated kidney from his father enabled Declan to work towards a healthy lifestyle and return to the many sporting activities he enjoyed prior to surgery.

Guy said: “Transplantation is a treatment and not a cure, so at some point in the future Declan will require another transplant or maybe several more. This may come from a relative, an altruistic donor or from a donor who has died.”

Declan, who attends Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School in Horncastle, had travelled to Argentina in fine form having claimed five individual swim gold medals and track relay silver and bronze at the British Transplant Games on 1st August.

For more information about organ donation and National Transplant Week, go to www.organdonation.nhs.uk or follow on Twitter @NHSOrganDonor

For more information about the World Transplant Games, go to www.wtgf.org

Ends

Notes to editors

The Elite Fish and Chip Company:

• The Elite Fish and Chip Company has three restaurant and takeaway outlets: Lincoln, Ruskington and Sleaford.
• It has been serving fish and chips in Lincolnshire for 27 years.
• It is a family-owned business in its third generation of friers.
• The Elite Fish and Chip Company won the National Fish and Chip Shop of the Year in 1992.
• Rachel Tweedale, Manager of The Elite Fish and Chip Company’s Sleaford restaurant and takeaway, is the current Drywite Young Fish Frier of the Year.
• All three of the company’s outlets have a five-star Food Standards Agency hygiene rating.
• Follow The Elite Fish and Chip Company on Twitter @chippyelite

For media information please contact:
Jonny Hall
Digital and PR Account Manager
Shooting Star
01522 528540
jonny@weareshootingstar.co.uk
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