RON Danville had always been fit and healthy.

So when he caught a virus which led to him having a heart and kidney transplant, it was something of a shock.

But, determined not to let it hold him back, the 54-year-old grandfather threw himself back into life and has just taken part in his fourth Transplant Games, narrowly missing out on a medal for his swimming ability.

It's a feat he would never have dreamed of 10 years ago when he was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy, a condition which causes the heart muscle to be abnormally enlarged, thickened or stiff.

In Ron's case, the condition was so severe he had to undergo a heart transplant in April 1998.

"I had never been in hospital before in my life," said Ron, who lives in Mallard Road, Bournemouth.

"This was just a bug. But it wasn't until I went to Bournemouth Hospital that they realised my heart was knackered really."

Following the operation, Ron returned to his job as a car valeter, but his health problems were far from over.

He was given tablets to take following the transplant but was made aware that the medication could damage his kidneys.

"It's usually not until years afterwards but, unfortunately for me, it affected it two plus years later," he explained.

"I was on dialysis from 2001 and I had to wait until 2004 for a suitable donor. I had the kidney transplant in June 2004 at Bristol."

It was while he was undergoing dialysis that Ron came across a leaflet about the British Transplant Games, now in its 31st year.

The event is organised by Transplant Sport UK, which was founded as a result of the first Transplant Olympics held in Portsmouth in 1978.

It takes place every year to raise awareness of the need for organ donation in the UK and worldwide.

By organising sports and social events for transplant recipients the organisation shows the benefits of organ donation and proves that patients can lead a normal and active life again after transplantation.

Ron took part in his first games in Loughborough in 2005, when he scooped a bronze medal for his swimming - an achievement made all the more impressive by the fact that he received no proper training for the event.

"I've always had back trouble over the years, but I try to keep fit," he said.

"They drum it into you to be fit and healthy and eat the right things, which I try to do. I could swim, but I wasn't a proper swimmer so I've just been doing it off my own bat.

"I swim twice a week at Stokewood Road. There's a swimming instructor there who swims there and he also teaches. He was giving me different tips on my stroke and things.

"I also go to the Bournemouth Heart Club - that's for people that have had bypasses and surgery and I try and do that regularly."

Ron took part in the 2006 games in Bath as well as the 2008 event in Sheffield, but hasn't won any medals since his first attempt.

But he has vowed to continue supporting the event and is now hoping to up his training to take part in next year's games in Coventry.

"I come from Coventry anyway," he said.

"I've got friends and family there so it's more pressure really. Hopefully I will be doing it next year but I need to get some proper coaching.

"It's a good atmosphere at the games and it promotes organ donation. Because I haven't worked for years it's nice to give something back."