A TOTAL of 34 athletes, including eight from Dublin, will represent Ireland at the 8th European Transplant & Dialysis Sports Championships in Krakow, Poland, from August 16-23.
The Irish team, managed by Colin White, from Balbriggan, will be bidding for another large haul of medals after winning 14 Gold, 15 Silver and 21 Bronze at the 2012 games in Croatia.
Transplant Team Ireland, which comprises 25 men and nine women, ranging in age from 16 to 76, includes 29 transplant recipients (five Liver, 22 Kidney, one combined Kidney/Pancreas, one Bone Marrow) as well as five people who are receiving dialysis treatment.
Teams members from the four corners of Ireland travelled to a photocall and motivational talk by Dublin senior football manager, Jim Gavin, at the ALSAA Sports Complex in Santry.
In a previous role with the Air Corps, Mr Gavin flew many missions involving the retrieval of organs and the movement of patients for transplant operations.
Mr Gavin said he felt humbled and privileged to be in the presence of such a large group of inspirational people.
“You have all experienced huge health challenges with uncertain outcomes,
? he told them.
“However, your resilience and determination to embrace life through sport is commendable and seeing you represent your country surely gives comfort to donor families as well as promoting to the public the indisputable importance and success of organ donation.
“Your participation in sport as a team shows solidarity in your conviction that organ donation works and that sport benefits mind and body and unites people.
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Colin White said this year will see the largest ever travelling Irish team for a European Championships which includes 10 newcomers.
“I have great admiration for the motivation shown by all of our team members in preparation for our trip to Poland,
? Mr White told Northside People.
“Not only have they been training hard for their respective competitions, they also pay the majority of the costs involved.
“As well as personal goals, our athletes are very much driven by a passion to showcase the importance and success of organ donation and transplantation.
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Mr White said they were delighted to welcome two former international sports stars on to the team including former Garryowen, Munster and Ireland rugby player, Richard Costello, who received a kidney transplant in 2012 as well as Mary Sheehan, who, in the 1980s, represented Ireland for several years in table tennis.
“Another accomplished sportsman joining our team is bone marrow transplant recipient Sean Marshall who, prior to being diagnosed with cancer in 2009, was ranked Ireland’s No.1 Darts ace,
? said Mr White.
“Sean, who is embracing life since his transplant from his donor brother Paudie, took part in the recent Ring of Kerry Cycle.
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Team Captain Harry Ward, from Baldoyle, has represented Ireland at numerous international Games events both as a dialysis patient and in more recent years as a transplant recipient thanks to his kidney transplant which he received in 2007.
The other Dubliners on the Irish team are: Ron Grainger (Castleknock), Paul Prendergast, (Santry), Chikoyo White (Balbriggan), Peter Heffernan (Skerries), James Reynolds (Tallaght), Michael Dwyer (Cabinteely) and Deirdre Faul (Dalkey).
Athletes will compete in badminton, tennis, cycling, darts, golf, petanque, swimming, table tennis, ten-pin bowling, tennis, volleyball, mini-marathon, track and field and for the first time this year a summer biathlon event.
For more information on the European Transplant & Dialysis Sports Championships and the Irish athletes visit the Irish team blog www.transplantteamireland.wordpress.com or visit www.etdsc2014krakow.pl
?¢ For an organ donor card Freetext the word DONOR to 50050 or visit www.ika.ie