Lewis Akril scored two gold medals and one silver at this year’s World Kidney Transplant games after battling serious illness throughout his childhood.
Mayor Cllr Vera Jenkins invited Lewis to a meeting of Full Council at the chamber in Penallta House recently to congratulate him on his achievement.
Cllr Jenkins said: “Lewis is an inspiration and I was delighted to invite him to Penallta House to formally acknowledge his medal success. He is a shining example of a young person who has triumphed in the face of adversity and I’m sure he will go on to great things in the future.”
Lewis was taken to hospital at the age of nine with suspected appendicitis. The family then received the devastating news that he was suffering from chronic renal failure and needed a transplant.
He underwent a successful kidney transplant at Bristol’s Children’s Hospital but despite his illness, brave Lewis did not hesitate when asked to take part in the British Transplant games in Bath in 2005.
Completing in a total of six British transplant games since then, Lewis has improved each time receiving a an impressive four gold medals in both the 100 metres and 200 metres, long jump and ball throw at last year’s games.
Aware of his athletic talents, the teen set his sights high on competing in this year’s world transplant games in Gothenburg, Sweden. He won gold in the 100m, ball throw and silver in the long jump.