A TWO-year-old from Harlow who received a lifesaving stem-cell transplant when she was just eight months old has won a bronze medal at the British Transplant Games in Birmingham.

Maddison Bradshaw is celebrating after winning a special bronze medal in the bean bag archery.

The British Transplant Games is an annual event in which people who have received lifesaving stem cell or organ transplants take part in a series of Olympic-style events.

Blood cancer charity Anthony Nolan and its team of 17 people, like young Maddison, who received lifesaving stem cell transplants returned from the annual event with 21 medals in events including golf, tennis and the 100m sprint.

Maddison was taken to A&E when she was just three months old, after her parents noticed bruising on her skin. They were told that she would need to have a bone marrow transplant.

Anthony Nolan was able to find a matching donor for Maddison, and she had a bone marrow transplant when she was six months old.

Ashleigh Bradshaw, Maddison’s mum, said: ‘It’s crazy to be here at the British Transplant Games and Maddie was very excited for her ‘sports day’. It’s great to be part of something so huge, with everyone who’s had a transplant or been through a similar thing to us.

‘Anthony Nolan helped find a donor for Maddison, and coordinated the whole process of getting that person to donate for us. Anthony Nolan has been a huge support for us before, during and after the transplant.

‘Without our donor, we wouldn’t be able to be here today, and we’d like to say thank you to them for everything they’ve done.’

The Games celebrate advances in transplantation and also provides gentle encouragement to transplant patients to build their strength and fitness after treatment. It also increases vital public awareness of the need for more people to join the Anthony Nolan stem cell donor register and the NHS Organ Donation Register.

Tom Bishop, Senior Patient Services Manager at Anthony Nolan, said: “This was our fourth year taking Team Anthony Nolan to the British Transplant Games and it was an amazing weekend for everybody involved.

“The Games are a testament to the incredible spirit and determination of people who have received a stem cell transplant; many of whom will experience a difficult and complicated recovery. Winning medals is brilliant, but what this event really demonstrates is how many stem cell transplant recipients like Maddison can go on to live rich, healthy and fulfilling lives. Team Anthony Nolan are all winners in our eyes.”

For support available to patients and families, or to join the Anthony Nolan register, visit www.anthonynolan.org