Bristol Rovers fan Alex Smith has been selected to take part in the World Transplant Games in Australia next year.

Alex, 13, from Barrs Court, suffers from Barth's Syndrome and had a heart transplant ten years ago.

He has been taking part in the British Transplant Games for the last ten years and this year won a gold medal in the table tennis competition.

Alex's family now have to raise £6,000 to send him to Australia to take part in next year's competition. Alex enjoyed a special VIP day out when Rovers took on Crewe two weeks ago and the club will be donating a signed shirt and some match tickets for an auction and raffle to raise money for the trip.

Alex's mum Tracy said: "Alex has been attending the British Transplant Games for the last ten years, and has tried a range of different activities including ball throwing and the long jump. He looks fit and well on the outside, but his illness means that he has very weak muscles and struggled at some of the events.

"Then he decided to try table tennis, even though he has never had any training, and he is really good at it. We were delighted when he won the gold medal, and it was even more special as it was his 10th transplant birthday.

"It was amazing when we got the letter calling him up to the World Games, as it has been a dream of his for so long. He has seen lots of his friends from the Great Ormond Street team being selected in the past, and now it is his turn.

"Alex had a fantastic day out at Rovers, and has not stopped showing people his autographs. The club are also kindly donating a shirt and some tickets to our raffle to raise money for the trip to Australia."

Without his heart transplant Alex would not be here today ready to travel around the world and represent his country. Today more than 9,000 people in the UK need an organ transplant that could save or dramatically improve their life. Most are waiting for a kidney, others for a heart, lung or liver transplant. But less than 3,000 transplants are carried out each year.

Tracy said: "Without his transplant, Alex would not be here today, and that was thanks to the very brave family who made the decision to donate their child's heart to Alex.

"There is currently a shortage of people signing up to the organ donor register, and I would like to encourage everyone to sign up, as they may help to save someone else's life one day."

To find out more about organ donation visit www.uktransplant.org.uk or to donate to Alex's trip to Australia go to www.justgiving.con/alexsmithaustralia09