A LECTURER who donated a kidney to a complete stranger has been invited to represent her country in an international sporting event.

Dr Gill Owens, an academic at Teesside University, is taking part in the World Transplant Games.

Dr Owens, a senior lecturer in leadership and management at the university, donated a kidney in March 2015.

Two years later, she is training to compete in the 100m sprint at the games, which are taking place in Malaga, Spain in June.

This year’s event is the first time donors have been invited to compete.

Dr Owens said she was inspired to donate a kidney after seeing her sister-in-law, Anita, who she had known since she was nine, “come back to life” after she received a kidney transplant from her big brother and Anita’s husband, George.

Being at the birth of her niece’s baby at a time when Anita, was too ill to attend, having been struck down with cancer, also had a bearing on her decision.

Dr Owens, who is an ambassador and trustee of the Give a Kidney Foundation, said: “Taking part is a chance to promote the cause of both organ donation and transplant sport to help demonstrate that you can enjoy a perfectly fit, healthy and active life after either donating or receiving a kidney.”

“I am really looking forward to representing Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

The lecturer will be joining a 250-strong Great Britain team when she competes in Spain.

There are currently over 6,500 people on the UK national transplant waiting list, with an average wait time of two and a half years for a donor.

Dr Owens is currently training three times a week with early morning gym sessions, with training to be stepped up further as the event approaches.

Support with exercise and dietary advice is being offered to Gill by various staff from the university.

“I really appreciate their involvement, it is a real team effort and I am so lucky to have the support of the guys working with me, their expertise is invaluable,”

“I used to do the sprint event as a schoolgirl, but there has been a lot of advancement in sports science since I was at school so I really value the help I’ve had from Teesside University,” she added.