The parents of a man whose organs were donated after he died in a tragic accident have spoken of their pride as they prepare to honour his memory by taking part in the World Transplant Winter Games.
Katey and Shaun Purkiss-McEndoo of Aske, near Richmond, North Yorkshire, are travelling to Bormio, Italy, on Saturday, where they will be participating in skiing and snow shoeing events.
Their son Charley, 27, a forester, who once played rugby for Darlington Mowden Park RFC and died in a freak work accident, was a keen skiier.
Katey, 59, said: "We lost our eldest son Charley in 2019 after a terrible accident at work. Charley donated his heart, liver and two kidneys - given to four people in total.Charley Purkiss-McEndoo (Image: Family)
"Last year the whole family were overjoyed to meet Charley's heart recipient, which has really brought some positivity back into our lives.
"Charley adored skiing , one of our family's most cherished memories was when we all learned to cross-country ski in 2004 in Norway.
"We are very proud to be confident enough to take part in something like this, based on what happened."
Katey added: "The magnitude of losing a child, albeit he was 27, he’s still a child to us, was terrible.
"I think organ donation is so important. Being together with other people who are donors and recipients is going to be quite a healing thing for us.
"People will be coming from all over the world to do something really fun is just a great thing. It is the ultimate in seeing the good side coming from such tragedy – and raising the profile of organ donation.
The couple will be joining a party of around 50 people from GB to take part in the games.
Shaun, 60, is taking part in the Nordic skiing one-hour race and the 2km snowshoeing, while Katey is competing in two Nordic events, the 5k and the hour races and the snowshoeing.
Katey, who will be a team captain, said: "We are both extremely rusty in terms of our Nordic skills but hoping to outweigh this with our enthusiasm and Yorkshire guts.
"We have self-financed this trip and are not officially raising any money ourselves but want to raise the profile of organ donation so that people can see how it changes lives.
"Grieving a son is a terrible thing to do. You have to be very active, making sure that you are living for yourself afterwards and not getting too lost in things.
"This should be a very uplifting thing for us to do."
Charley, who spent four seasons at Darlington Mowden Park RFC before joining Harrogate RUFC, was described by friends as a "wonderful player, person and friend".
Katey said: "He was a very positive young man. He will be incredibly proud we are doing this."
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