Transplant to Team GB

At RUN Loughborough, we love to celebrate the incredible journeys of our members and few stories are as inspiring as that of Darren Creed.

Just two years ago, Darren was facing the biggest challenge of his life. Diagnosed with polycystic kidney disease back in 2012, his health steadily declined until he needed a transplant. In July 2023, his life was transformed when his wife, Donna, gave him the ultimate gift – a kidney donation that quite literally gave him a second chance.

Since then, Darren has grabbed that gift with both hands. Not only has he returned to full health, but he has also become a shining example of determination, positivity, and what it means to live life to the fullest.

In 2024, just a year after his transplant, Darren made his debut at the British Transplant Games – and what a debut it was! He stormed to gold medals in both the 50m and 100m freestyle swimming events, and even picked up a bronze medal in volleyball with the Leicester team.

That incredible performance earned him a place in Team GB for the World Transplant Games 2025 in Dresden, Germany – the biggest global event celebrating transplant athletes and raising awareness of organ donation. Darren has just competed against over 1,000 athletes from 60 countries, all of them living proof of the power of transplantation.

A New Chapter: Running… Although swimming has always been Darren’s first love (he swam competitively as a teenager for Leicester and the county), his transplant journey has inspired him to take on new challenges. After watching teammates compete in running events, Darren set his sights on lacing up his trainers – and that’s where RUN Loughborough comes in.

Now a proud member of our club, Darren has been training towards completing parkruns, a donor run and building up his fitness on the road as well as in the pool. His goal is simple: to push himself further, inspire others, and continue proving that life after a transplant can be full of energy, achievement, and joy.

For Darren, every race, every swim, and every run is about more than medals. It’s about honouring the incredible gift from his wife, celebrating life with his family, and raising awareness about the importance of organ donation. With more than 7,000 people currently waiting for a transplant in the UK, Darren’s story is a powerful reminder of how vital it is to sign up as a donor – and to share that decision with loved ones.

The Spirit of RUN Loughborough….

We’re proud to have Darren as part of our community here at RUN Loughborough. His positivity is infectious, his determination is unmatched, and his story is proof that running is about so much more than pace or distance – it’s about courage, connection, and celebrating every step forward.

So next time you see Darren at training or on the start line of a local run, give him a cheer – because he’s not just running for himself, he’s running for everyone who’s been touched by the gift of organ donation. Darren Creed is showing us all what it means to keep moving forward, no matter the obstacles. At RUN Loughborough, we couldn’t be prouder.