Lynette Lepore has been an athlete all her life and has had the privilege of donning the green and gold many times in her sporting career.
Being visually impaired, Lepore represented Australia in tandem cycling from 1994 to 2004, and won gold at the 2000 Paralympic Games.
Even being diagnosed with kidney disease in 1997 did not hold her back, and she continued to manage her condition for 18 years before she was forced onto dialysis.
However, Lepore was beginning to lose her independence and was often confined to her home.
"I just understood how good exercise was, even for recovery, for wellbeing, for mental health," she said.
"But, after I finished cycling, [my kidneys] slowly started to deteriorate."
A second chance at life
Lepore was given a second chance at life when her nephew, Adam Reeves, donated one of his kidneys to her.
"I thought, 'Well, why not? If I can help her out, why not do it?'" Reeves explained.
"If you've got a family member, or a friend, who is in need, it's actually such a huge gift to give without too much trouble."
Lepore was determined to recover and return to the active lifestyle she previously enjoyed.
"When I had my transplant, I felt so good, so healthy and I just wanted to get back into sports," she said.
"I'm on immunosuppressant medication for the rest of my life, but that's just a small [price] to pay for being able to do what I want to do."
'The natural thing to do'
After hearing about the World Transplant Games, the now 61-year-old felt ready to represent her country once again.
"I've been an athlete all my life, so it just seemed the natural thing to do," she said.
At this year's event in Perth, Lepore competed at three sporting events and ended up winning a silver medal in her division in tenpin bowling.
"It was a wonderful surprise … and a lot of fun," she said.
"It's all just a great opportunity to stay healthy and it gets so many people together who are here because we have got an extra life given to us, so it's very precious."
Her nephew could not be prouder to see his aunt get a new lease on life.
"I think it's tremendous to see that her life changed for the better and nothing will stop her from achieving her goals … It makes me feel quite proud of what I've done," he said.
"If I could do it again, I would."
Celebrating the 'gift of life'
More than 1,500 people from 46 countries travelled to Perth to take part in the 24th World Transplant Games this year.
It was the third time Australia had hosted the games, which is the world's largest sporting and awareness event for organ and tissue donation.
The seven-day program involves 17 different sports, ranging from athletics to tenpin bowling, along with many social and cultural events.
Transplant Australia chief executive Chris Thomas said the week was a chance to celebrate transplant recipients and honour their donors and families.
"There's so many people [who] have come from around the world, and they're all united by this one, common bond," he said.
"We've got athletes. We've got mums and dads. We've got sisters and brothers and grandparents, and they're all just united in the celebration of the gift of life.
"They've all contemplated what the future holds, and then they're given the gift to live again and to get that second chance, and we want them to make the most of that chance," he said.
Just one-in-three Australians have opted in
Thomas said raising awareness about organ and tissue donation was a key part of the event.
According to the Organ and Tissue Authority, a majority of Australians support organ donation, but only 36 per cent are registered to be a donor.
"There's currently 1,800 people waiting for a lifesaving transplant and it's the power within us all to actually save up to seven lives by registering as an organ donor," he said.
"It's the most wonderful legacy we can leave behind.
"So, the purpose of these games is to promote the message of the gift of life worldwide to give those people a better chance at living again."
'He gave me a precious gift'
Lepore also wants to spread that message.
"It's so important that people get any kind of organ or tissue donation and these games just highlight how much it helps us to live our lives," she said.
She hopes to compete in more Transplant Games and continue making her nephew proud.
"He gave me a precious gift and one I always cherish," she said.
"I send a message every year on our anniversary, on the sixth of December, and tell him how grateful and precious the gift he's given me … the gift of life."
