Roy McBeth

When you give a kidney to someone, you empower them to control their future, to fulfill their highest aspirations.

Roy, a workout warrior and fierce competitor, has Polycystic Kidney Disease that runs in his family - it inevitably took its toll despite his determination to keep strong. He continued his health regimen throughout his 20s and 30s, trying to escape fate, but in his early forties the symptoms started to snowball.

In the meantime, he had joined the Abbotsford Police Department and continued to participate in highly competitive sports. But the inevitable was always around the corner – he would eventually need a kidney transplant. Roy asked for help finding a kidney from members of the force, something not in his nature. The response was overwhelming – he thinks it’s a first responder thing. Ultimately his supervisor, Kevin Wright, quietly tested and was approved as the best match. On January 14, 2015, he received his new kidney and the rest is history.

His recovery has been remarkable. He and his donor trained together. Within 2 weeks they were walking 10 km a day. Roy returned to the workforce after 7 weeks. After 5 months he competed in a 50 km mountain bike race and in June he completed an ironman competition. In the five years since his transplant he has had lots of podium finishes with his wife Anne competing alongside him, and his son Connor, heading up the cheer squad. That is what you can do for someone when you donate a kidney.

Next stop, Ironman Canada 2020, and Roy hopes to qualify for the World Triathlon Championships in Kona.