FORMER Tyrone GAA star Peter Canavan shared the wisdom of his sporting career in his motivational talk to members of Transplant Team Ireland ahead of their departure to represent Ireland at the European Transplant & Dialysis Sports Championships in Cagliari, from June 17-24.
Members of the 24-strong team travelled from all over Ireland to meet Canavan, at ALSAA sports complex.
Canavan, who won two senior All-Ireland football medals for Tyrone and six All Stars, expressed his admiration for Transplant Team Ireland.
“You are an inspiration to us all,” he told them. “Many of you are now fighting fit having faced huge health battles which many of you have overcome thanks to organ donation, while three of you, are still battling through organ failure and like the rest of the team imbue great personal inner strength and positivity by keeping active and engaging in competitive sport.
“I now encourage you to harness your positivity in your final preparations for competition and aim to be the best that you can be in your chosen sports.
“Be confident in your abilities when competing at the European Championships and show how much can be achieved by embracing life through sport.”
Over 25 countries and 470 participants are expected to participate in the event.
The current panel of Transplant Team Ireland comprises 24 athletes, 10 women and 14 men, ranging in age from 31 to 80.
The Dubliners include Peter Heffernan, Skerries, Ron Grainger, Castleknock, Paul Prendergast, Santry, Aoife Murray, Clonsilla, Harry Ward (team captain, Baldoyle, Chikoyo White, Balbriggan, Leonard Ryan, Tallaght, Verina Borrisova, (newcomer) native of Bulgaria now living in Tallaght, and Deirdre Faul, from Dalkey. Colin White (team captain) and Heather Gunning (team doctor), from Balbriggan and Dublin 8 respectively, will also be among the travelling party.