Hallam students help Sheffield celebrate gift of life at British Transplant Games

Returning to Sheffield for the first time since 2013, the Westfield Health British Transplant Games brought the city together this month (August 2026) to celebrate the life-changing impact of organ donation, and students from across Sheffield Hallam University’sSchool of Sport and Physical Activity helped support the athletes, and donor families

Press contact: Rebecca Ferguson | r.ferguson@shu.ac.uk

Second-year Sport and Exercise Science student Rian Snell worked organising this year’s event as part of his degree placement, whilst also competing in the Games himself. He was joined by a team of students, volunteering on research projects, providing physiotherapy support to competing athletes, or helping make the event was a success for the city. 

The Games are the annual flagship event of Transplant Active, and this year attracted a record 2,857 registered participants, including a record 1,145 donor recipient athletes from 60 teams representing their transplant units from across the UK. 

Rian is a donor recipient, having taken part in the Games every year since he received a life-saving kidney transplant from his mother Karen when he was only 3 and a half years old.  

After winning three gold medals at the World Transplant Games in Germany earlier this year, Rian his sights set on more in Sheffield, where he won gold medals for the 60m sprint and Long Jump representing Team GUYS Adults in the Track and Field events. 

Rian also took the title as the first student from the Sport Hallam Performance Athlete Support Programme (PASP) to represent Great Britain at the Games. PASP offers a variety of support for talented student athletes, enabling them to balance university life while achieving their sporting potential.

Speaking about his success on the field, Rian said: “Going into the Games, I wanted to perform to the best of my ability, so to come away with two gold medals was a fantastic feeling. It was also incredibly special to celebrate alongside other transplant recipients and donor families, and to see first-hand the positive impact of organ donation. 

“The Games are a powerful reminder of the opportunities that organ donation creates, and it was inspiring to see so many people competing and thriving because of that gift.” 

Rian said it was amazing to have the games hosted in Sheffield, which gave him the opportunity to work for the Local Organising Committee as part of his degree placement. 

He said: “Through the Strength and Conditioning internship programme at Hallam I completed last year, I've also gained valuable hands-on experience in an elite performance environment, which I've really enjoyed. At the same time, my placement with the Games gave me the opportunity to work on the event management side of a major sporting event, and I thoroughly enjoyed seeing what goes on behind the scenes to deliver an event successfully. 

“Both experiences have opened my eyes to different areas of the sports industry, and while I'm still exploring my options, I know that a career working within the sporting sector is something I would really enjoy.” 

A team of student volunteers from the School of Sport and Physical Activity also supported the game, supporting the athletes and donor families, and ensuring the event was a success for the city. 

Although the main aim of the Games is to celebrate the impacts organ donation and increase public awareness of the need for organ donation, as one of the largest multi-sport events in the UK, its economic impact is also significant. 

A team of Sheffield Hallam students were recruited for the event as research volunteers, interviewing Games participants, including transplant recipients, donors, supporters, and volunteers to support a Westfield Health research project led by Professor Girish Ramchandani from the School of Sport and Physical Activity, which will measure the social and economic impact of the games. 

Kate Platts, Director of Research and Innovation at Westfield Health and Visiting Researcher at Sheffield Hallam University’s Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre, said: “In 2026, Westfield Health partnered with Sheffield Hallam University and Transplant Active, the founder and custodian of the British Transplant Games, to undertake the first formal evaluation of the event. 

“We understand the vital role that physical activity and social connection play in improving health and wellbeing within the transplant community. While there is strong anecdotal evidence that the Games have a positive impact on participants, their families, volunteers, and organisers, these impacts have never been formally measured. Beyond those directly involved, the Games are also believed to influence wider society by raising awareness of organ and stem cell transplantation and highlighting the importance of healthcare services that support transplant patients.  

"This initiative is a natural extension of the long-standing partnership between Westfield Health and Sheffield Hallam University, which is driven by a shared commitment to improving the health and wellbeing of people locally, regionally, and nationally. 

Kate added: “The British Transplant Games are a unique celebration of life, friendship, physical activity and the life-changing power of organ donation. Each year, the Games bring together transplant recipients, donor families, living donors, supporters and volunteers in a powerful display of resilience, community, and hope. Westfield Health is proud to have supported the Games for many years.” 

Dr Ruth Crabtree, Head of the School of Sport and Physical Activity at Sheffield Hallam University, said: “It was great to be involved with the Games and have students and staff volunteering at the event. Applied learning is at the heart of what we do at Hallam and being involved in such events is vital to our students gaining real world experience and the skills needed that employers are looking for in graduates. 

“It was fantastic to see our students involved in collecting important research that will help inform the Games organisers, Transplant Active and Westfield Health going forward, to understand the social impact the Games have. 

“A huge well done to Rian, not only was he busy helping to organise the Games, as part of his placement within his degree, he also competed and won gold medals, he is an absolute inspiration.”