Transplant Games

Double test for our transplant team of heroes

Email Article
Print Version
Search
Most Emailed
Most Read
Athletes on British and world stage
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
By Emily Moulton
A record number of Ulster transplant patients will be heading to Edinburgh and then Bangkok over the next few weeks to compete in this year's British and World Transplant Games.
The group of 26 individuals will compete against more than 1,000 other transplant patients from around the world in events such as swimming, athletics, volleyball and golf.
The Transplant Games are staged annually to demonstrate to the public the benefits of organ donation.
But despite high levels of support, recent research shows that only 32% of would-be donors in the UK have recorded their intention to donate by joining the register.
Currently in Northern Ireland there are 317 people, including eight children, who are awaiting an organ transplant.
Northern Ireland Transplant Games team manager Michelle Morrow explained the games were a perfect vehicle to highlight the need for more people to sign up to the Organ Donation Register.
"Transplantation is only possible thanks to the generosity of donors and their families who make this selfless gift," she said.
"The register is the best way for people to record their wishes and leave a legacy of life for others after their death. Currently there are 317 local people, including eight children, waiting for the gift of an organ that will save or dramatically improve their lives."
The Northern Ireland team is made up of adults and children aged between seven and 62 years who have all received either a kidney or bone marrow life-saving transplant.
One member is Bessbrook nurse Emma Doyle. Emma received a kidney transplant in 1998 after being on dialysis since early childhood.
Following her transplant, Emma returned to school and went on to study nursing at Queen's University. She now works as a staff nurse in the Cancer Centre at the Belfast City Hospital and is a regular competitor in the British Transplant Games where she has twice been named the Best Adult Female Athlete.
Last year Emma picked up three gold and silver medals at the UK games.
Seven-year-old Aoife Doyle, from Crumlin, who received a kidney transplant in 2005 after being on dialysis since birth, is the youngest member of the team to take part in the event.
Of the 26 members taking part in the British games, eight will go on to compete in the World Games which is being held in Bangkok on August 25.
Crumlin teenager Helena Boyle (17) makes her debut and is the first junior competitor from Belfast to have been selected for the World Games following her outstanding performance in last year's British Games.
Also joining the squad is Belfast man Andrew Weir. The 46-year-old is celebrating the 25th anniversary of his bone marrow transplant and is said to be very excited about competing on the world stage.
But before the team heads off to compete next Thursday, a special fundraising event is being held today to help raise money for the team and awareness about organ donation.
Members of the Transplant Games team and their families and friends will walk from the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children and the Belfast City Hospital Tower as part of the national UK Million Mile Walk which aims to encourage a further one million people to sign the Organ Donor Register.
Anyone interested in signing up to the register should visit www.uktransplant.org.uk or call the NHS Organ Donor Line on 0845 60 60 400.
More articles in Health
Families come first in the donor debate