Transplant athletes win world medals

6:23pm Friday 31st August 2007

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Sportsman Grant Cawte has become badminton world champion at the World Transplant Games in Bangkok.

Mr Cawte, 33, who works for Oxfordshire County Council and lives in Middle Barton, was also a runner-up in the mixed doubles competition, which was won by Jill Edwards from Carterton, and her partner.

He has beaten a series of life-threatening illnesses including leukaemia, a brain tumour, MRSA and a debilitating bone marrow transplant.

Doctors first diagnosed he had leukaemia and gave him chemotherapy to prepare him for the transplant, but a reaction to the drugs once again left him dangerously ill.

Mr Cawte was given a cocktail of medication to keep the leukaemia at bay but illness struck a third time when doctors discovered the tumour.

Last night, he said: "I'm absolutely elated and thank my team and everyone at Oxfordshire County Council, without whose support I could never have competed."

Ms Edwards, 65, has won more than 70 medals for swimming, badminton and table tennis at British, European and World games after having a heart transplant in 1990.

They are part of a 125-strong British team in Thailand, which also includes runner Steve Whelan, 46, from Horspath.