A CANCER patient from Bridgwater whose life was saved thanks to a bone marrow transplant is now gearing up to compete in the British Transplant Games for the second consecutive year.

But this year Luke Buckingham, 29, has decided to represent the charity that provided a matching donor in 2012.

He will be travelling to Newcastle in July to compete in the Olympic-style event as part of Team Anthony Nolan. The sports development manager at Bridgwater College explained how sport and exercise helped in his battle against cancer.

“I used to play semi-professional football, so being active was such a big part of my life,” he said. “Having that taken away from me and suffering from fatigue was very hard for me to deal with physically and mentally.”

While waiting for his transplant Luke was told about the British Transplant Games by a fellow teacher and decided to get involved.

He added: “It was great to have something to aim for while I was undergoing treatment.

“Exercise has been the single biggest thing which helped me overcome my illness as well as the support from my loved ones. The more exercise I did, the more energy I had.”

After Luke was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia for a second time in his mid-20s, he was told he needed a lifesaving bone marrow transplant from a stranger on the Anthony Nolan register.

A perfect match was found and Luke had his transplant in October 2012. In November the Mercury reported how Luke met donor Richard Barker from Hull to thank him for saving his life and now Luke is trying to raise the profile of the charity in the transplant games.

The event has been running since 1973 and is a series of Olympic-style events which sees all kinds of transplant recipients compete in the sporting events, including those who have had bone marrow and organ transplants.

Many of the competitors, including Luke, were facing their last chance of survival before life-saving transplants of hearts, lungs, kidneys, livers or bone marrow gave them a second chance.

The former Chilton Trinity student competed in the British Transplant Games in Bolton last year, taking part in the volleyball, badminton, darts, table tennis, discus and javelin.

He said: “It was a very humbling and inspiring experience to compete with other transplant patients.

A whole range of experience and skill levels can compete. It’s such a friendly atmosphere but there is a competitive element too.

“Everyone is at different stages in their journeys – yes, it’s great to get medals, but really the games are about celebrating life post transplant.

“I want to show everyone there are other things you can do other than ‘surviving’ post transplant – you can be active.”

Henny Braund, chief executive of Anthony Nolan, said: “We are very proud to partner with the British Transplant Games 2015.

“Supporting this event is part of our ongoing commitment to supporting people like Luke and their families through their transplant journey, from finding life-saving donors to helping people live their lives to the full afterwards.

“The games will be a chance to celebrate life after transplant and the second chance that their donor has given them.

“At Anthony Nolan, we are dedicated to listening to our supporters, and the feedback from the inspirational competitors at previous games told us this was an exciting event and something to get involved in.”

Anyone who is a transplant recipient or a stem cell or bone marrow donor, and would like to compete for Team Anthony Nolan at this year’s games, should visit britishtransplantgames.co.uk

For more information about Anthony Nolan and how to sign up to the register visit anthonynolan.org