PEEBLES athlete Aaron Gray has returned home from the Westfield Health British Transplant Games with yet another medal to add to his collection.

And he made it a high five of Borders winners at the four-day event in Newport.

Around 1,000 people who have undergone life-saving transplant operations from across the UK competed last month.

Aaron attended the games as part of the Edinburgh Adults team.

And he won a silver medal in ten pin bowling.

Aaron, who received a combined liver and small bowel transplant when he was three years old in 2000, told us: “This was my 16th annual British transplant games, I have been going since I was seven years old.

"I go every year to be part of a truly amazing event, to meet up with all the people I have met over the years and to help show everyone just what an amazing difference organ donation makes to our lives, not just those who are fortunate to receive a life saving transplant but for everyone touched by organ donation including our wonderful donor families.”

Aaron wasn’t the only local transplant recipient competing with Edinburgh Adults from the Borders to return with a medal, Ena Mitchell a liver recipient from Yarrow won gold in archery and two Peebles High School teachers, Alan Stewart, a kidney recipient won bronze in the1500 metres, and Alan MacLean, a kidney recipient won silver in basketball.

We also revealed last week how Clovenfords grandmother Hilde Paxton, a liver recipient, won gold at archery.

The Games are the flagship event of the charity, Transplant Sport, and sees teams from hospitals across the UK compete in 23 different sports. It attracts around 2500 transplant recipients, live donors, donor families and supporters.

The aim of the Games is to raise awareness of organ donation and encourage families to have the donation conversation. Title sponsor Westfield Health, a leading not-for-profit health insurer, has been involved in the Games for more than a decade.

Chairman Graham Moore added: "We’re immensely proud of everyone that’s been involved with the Games to make it the success that it has become. We’d like to offer our congratulations to all of the athletes for overcoming such challenging times in their lives and competing in the Games.

“We are looking forward seeing the continued benefits the Games has on the health and wellbeing of participants. We hope that as more people become aware of the Games and the lifesaving benefits of organ transplants, they will be encouraged to get involved.”