IT’S a life-changing gift and has travelled thousands of miles to reach its recipient.

When Glenda Hughes’s father Rod Bridges died she wanted someone else to benefit from his prosthetic leg.

The Hythe grandfather and owner of Blackfield Garage had his leg amputated at the age of 80 after suffering from thrombosis.

But after learning that the NHS couldn’t take the custom-built limb back, Glenda, 60, who works at Wedded Bliss in Dibden Purlieu, hunted for an alternative use for it.

She found Legs4Africa, a charity which sends prosthetic limbs to hospitals, mainly in The Gambia, where specialists break them up and customise them for patients.

Now Rod’s leg has found its way to a young football coach from Banjul.

Lamin Jammeh, 24, lost his limb after complications following a break, and although he had been given his own prosthetic leg he found it uncomfortable.

Charity trustee Tom Williams said: “The main cause of amputation in Africa is from diabetes, but the second biggest reason is that after a break people will often go to a bush or witch doctor. The condition worsens so they have to go to a hospital, and by then it’s too late.

“Football has always been at the centre of Lamin’s life and, although he can no longer play himself, he takes great pleasure in guiding others and hopes to one day coach at an international level.”

Tom added: “This donation from Glenda on behalf of her dad has already changed Lamin’s life. Prosthetic legs are very personal items, they are part of someone’s life and such gifts, especially in the case of a bereavement, is an emotional thing and we hope our work in finding a worthy home so that the prosthetic can continue to assist amputees in low income countries, offers some comfort to our donors, such as Glenda.”

Glenda said her dad, who served in the Malaya conflict, would be “thrilled” that someone young and sporting is making use of his leg.

She said: “Dad was the most generous person I have ever known and the thought of his prosthetic leg going on to benefit someone else would have been an absolute joy to him.

“He was quite a character – he once received a caution for speeding down Hythe pier on his mobility scooter; he really did love life.”

Legs4Africa has been in operation for three years and has provided over two and a half thousand donated legs to countries across sub-Saharan Africa as well as assisting other charities with mobility equipment in regions such as Syria. To find out more visit their website https://www.legs4africa.org/