RUNNERS Kate Knox and Alex Walker are preparing for two life-changing events in their lives – the World Transplant Games and their wedding.

The couple, who live in Goldfinch Close, Faversham, met in Canada at a World Transplant Games in 2005 and have just got engaged. They have an impressive haul of medals between them and are excited about running in next year's championships.

Alex, 42, who had a heart transplant in 1987, has competed in the Games since 1991. The championships in Sweden next year will mark the fourth appearance for Kate, 33, who had a liver transplant in 1996.

Both compete in the 400-metre, 800-metre and 1,500-metre disciplines, and are members of the 4 by 400-metre teams.

Alex has won a gold medal in the relay at every Games he has competed in, but is still striving for an individual gold. He considers his proudest moment to be winning his first individual National British Transplant Games gold medal at Crystal Palace in 1991, just three years after his transplant.

Amazingly, Kate did not run competitively until after her transplant, but has since achieved at a startling rate.

She is currently holds the world women's 800-metre and 4 by 400-metre relay for people who have had transplants. She balances her training with her job working in science labs for Pfizer.

Kate said: "It is a great honour to represent your country at anything, but especially in this arena, to prove how healthy we are thanks to the generosity of others. It is a privilege."

Alex said: "It is so important for us to demonstrate to the world how successful transplants are.

"The best way has to be through sport. Look at what we can do! Without a transplant, we would either have been very ill – or dead. But thanks to the donor card and hospitals and surgeons, we are showing that a transplant is not a prolonging of being ill."

Both Alex and Kate have check-ups and are on medication, but they are fit and well, training five times a week, including three running sessions.

Do they argue? Alex said: "We are very competitive. She has her world individual gold medals and I don't! I'm envious, but it is nice to have someone to train with, compete against and relate to."

The couple – who have yet to set a wedding date – will compete against the best from 55 countries at the Games.

Before that, they each need to raise £1,000 for training and travel costs in the run-up to the tournament. Anyone interested in sponsoring them is asked to e-mail kate.knox@justgiving.com