On April 25, 2009, after years of surgeries and illness triggered by cardiomyopathy, Ron Boris of Auburn was given a heart transplant.

His new heart had been donated by Eddie Bates, of Delaware, who was 31 when he died of a brain aneurysm.

Boris keeps Bates’ heart pumping by training for and competing in Transplant Games of America.

He visited the Schuylkill County commissioners’ meeting Wednesday to thank the community for its support as he competed last month on Team Philadelphia in the games in Salt Lake City.

There, he won gold medals in doubles badminton and darts, and a silver medal in singles badminton.

It was Boris’ fifth Transplant Games competition. He’s looking forward to the 2020 games at the Meadowlands in New Jersey, and plans to represent the United States in the World Transplant Games in Houston, Texas, in 2021.

“I’d like to thank the people here for their support while I’m at the games,” he said.