THEY will be easy to spot in their bright orange T-shirts.

Dozens of kind hearted volunteers have given up their time to make sure the British Transplant Games run smoothly.

Dubbed Northlanders, each of the Games volunteers has a special reason for getting involved.

For Lily Turley, her desire to take part is for a particularly poignant reason.

Eight years ago Lily's son, Daryl, was killed by a motorcycle as he crossed the road near his home in Whitehill, Hamilton.

Daryl was just 13 and Lily and her husband were forced to make the decision about whether or not to donate Daryl's organs.

Lily, however, said it was no decision to make.

She said: "In all honestly, I had never considered organ donation before.

"But when the doctors explained that Daryl's death could help other people live then we knew we had to say yes.

"If it was you who needed the organ to save your life then you would say yes to taking it so we said yes for Daryl to give his organs.

"To see something good come out of something so bad is incredible."

As previously told in the Evening Times, Daryl's liver was given to a young woman from Belfast, Cara Hearst, who had just days to live after being struck down with Wilson's disease.

Lily and Cara, who is now a nurse, were one of the first recipients and donor family members in the UK to meet up.

Lily said: "After Cara received her transplant it was about six months later that I received a letter from her and I was absolutely overwhelmed.

"The day I met her I was blown away. I had been expecting to see someone frail and ill but she was glowing with health.

"We hugged and she couldn't thank me enough for her life."

Since that first meeting, the two women have been in constant contact and have been to visit Daryl's grave where Cara spent private time thanking the young boy who saved her life.

Lily also threw herself into fundraising and awareness raising for organ donation.

Although her marriage eventually broke down following Daryl's death, Lily has worked hard to stay positive and keep busy.

Daryl was honoured with The Order of St John UK Award for Organ Donation, given to Lily at St James's Palace in London.

Now Lily is using her skills as a Northlander at the British Transplant Games.

She is taking part over all four days of the event, helping as an events marshal, assisting with the under-5s ball throw, the Donor Walk and with the Track and Field competition.

The 54-year-old added: "The majority of people involved have all received transplants or are relatives of a donor and it's our way of raising awareness.

"It's going to be emotional but I'm really looking forward to it."

Organisers have praised the number of people from Lanarkshire who have come forward to volunteer their time.

There will be volunteers from around Scotland and England but the majority of volunteers at this year’s event are from North Lanarkshire.

They have received full training by Voluntary Action North Lanarkshire and will be assisting in a variety of roles.

This ranges from helping at the opening and closing ceremonies, supporting sport specific events, transport, registration of athletes and generally providing information and assistance to the athletes and supporters.

And a special few will also take a turn wearing the Haggi mascot costume.

Each Northlander will also receive a goody bag containing a t-shirt, water bottle and a plastic mac to thank them for their time.