Rian Snell Interview

Rian Snell hadn’t even started pre-school when he was forced to confront a devastating life and death situation.

Born with acute renal failure, Rian’s health deteriorated to the point that he faced a heartrending race against time to find a matching kidney donor, aged just three and a half.

Transplant waiting lists have now reached a record high, with more than 8,000 people in the UK actively in need of life-saving organs, according to NHS Blood and Transplant.

Yet for Rian, a second-year Sport and Exercise Science student at Sheffield Hallam University, the answer was right in front of him. His critical search for a working kidney started and finished with his mum Karen!

“My family members got tested and, somewhat unbelievably, my mum was a match,” the 21-year-old said.

“She gave me her kidney and it’s given me a second chance of life. It has brought us incredibly close. I have such a strong bond with her because of what happened.”

A few months after the operation, Rian participated in the 2009 British Transplant Games.

The Games is the annual flagship event of Transplant Active, and is a multi-sport event created to demonstrate the healthy, fulfilling lives that transplant patients can lead, whilst also providing an opportunity to thank live donors and donor families for their life-changing generosity.

Sheffield is hosting the 2026 iteration between 6 and 9 August, where over 2,500 participants, including organ donors and their families, are expected to take part across 26 sports.

Organisers are also hoping the event will encourage people to ‘have the conversation’ with their loved ones about wanting to become an organ donor when they pass away, because although consent to donate is presumed upon death, family can still override any decision.

Rian’s story is living proof of the power of saying ‘yes’ to organ donation. He has spent the intervening years living up to a vow he made to make the most of his ‘second chance’, by participating in every British Transplant Games held since.

The Norfolk native has won all manner of medals over the years, but landed arguably his greatest accomplishment earlier this year when he claimed a hat-trick at the World Transplant Games in Germany. He won gold in the long jump and relay and bronze in the 100m.

He has already set his sights on more honours at next year’s Westfield Health British Transplant Games in Sheffield. But for Rian, and the other 1,000 transplant recipients who participate, the Games are about more than medals.

“The Games are a unique opportunity to share experiences with other people who have overcome life and death adversity,” he said.

“It’s an open place where you don’t feel judged by anyone and a chance for transplant recipients to come together like one big family.