Johns joy at World Transplant Games

Lincolnshire PGA Professional Alison Johns has won gold and bronze medals at the World Transplant Games in Argentina.

The Woodhall Spa coach, who previously won two golds for golf in the British Transplant Games and a gold for badminton, collected individual gold and teamed up with Brenda Roberts in the doubles to win bronze.

The aim of the World Transplant Games Federation is to visibly demonstrate the benefits of successful organ transplantation, work to increase public awareness of its success and thereby increase organ donation rates, as well as promote the full rehabilitation and wellbeing of its participants.

Johns, who became the first lady captain of the PGA in Lincolnshire in 2013, had a life-saving liver transplant in 2009.

In the six years since surgery Johns’ dedication to growing the game at a grassroots has only grown stronger and she continues to offer taster sessions and subsidised junior lessons to help more youngsters find a route into the sport.

She remains as keen for as many people as possible to discover the same joys that she has found from the sport since she first picked up a club aged 11.

“I remember the feeling the first time I hit a golf ball,” she recalled. “I was just amazed to see how far it went.

“Golf is a great sport which offers good exercise without the sorts of strains that other sports put on your body.

“And the important thing to remember is that golf can be whatever you want it to be, it’s fun but can be competitive, and it’s a great way to meet people and make new friends.”