THE Ambassador of Spain welcomed members of Transplant Team Ireland to his embassy residence in the leafy Dublin suburb of Ballsbridge last week as they prepared to set off for the 21st World Transplant Games in Malaga.
Ambassador José María Rodríguez-Coso wished the members of the team a most successful and enjoyable stay in his country, where they will be participating alongside teams from more than 50 countries this week.
“As we know, Spain is a world leader in transplantation and it fills me with satisfaction to know that my country has been chosen to host the Games,” the ambassador said.
“The work that the Irish Kidney Association does is of enormous importance for transplant recipients, their families and friends. I would like to give you every encouragement to continue your most worthwhile and admirable task for the benefit of all of us. It gives me great pleasure to welcome you to Spain.”
The Irish Kidney Association is responsible for coordinating and managing Transplant Team Ireland’s participation at European and World Transplant Games events.
At the forthcoming World Transplant Games the 28 Irish competitors, including nine women, and 19 supporters will join others from over 50 countries in what will be the biggest gathering of transplant recipients this year – almost 1,000 competitors are registered to take on events as diverse as athletics, badminton, swimming, ten pin bowling and darts to name but a few.
Ranging in age from 30 to 79, Transplant Team Ireland includes five liver transplant recipients and 23 who have undergone kidney transplants. One of the kidney transplant recipients is also poignantly the father of a deceased organ donor.
Colin White, the National Projects Manager of the Irish Kidney Association, is the Ireland Team Manager and he is also currently the Treasurer of the World Transplant Games Federation.
Mr White said: “This year the World Transplant Games Federation is celebrating 30 years and we can be proud of the tradition that our team has in the competition.
“Our team is known for its sense of fair play as well as its sense of fun with both underpinned by a steely competitive edge.
“Our athletes are coming from across the country and their dedication and commitment is not only to their training, in practical terms, they also fund the vast majority of the costs involved.
“Their motivation is driven by a determination to be Fit for Life, to show other ‘patients’ what can be achieved post-transplant and to encourage the general public to have a family discussion about organ donation.”
Keen to build on their medal successes at the previous World Transplant Games in Argentina in 2015, Deirdre Faul, Kieran Murray, Tony Gartland and Peter Heffernan have been training hard in anticipation of the competition in Malaga.
Between them, the much smaller team of four won 13 medals including seven Gold, four Silver and two Bronze in Argentina.
Two years previously, at the World Transplant Games in Durban, South Africa 2013, the Irish team of 24 athletes scooped 34 medals including 12 Gold, 10 Silver and 12 Bronze with 50 competing countries.
Dubliners on the team include Ron Grainger, Castleknock, (kidney); Harry Ward, Team Captain, Baldoyle, (kidney); Paul Prendergast, Santry, (kidney); Anthony Byrne, Artane (kidney); Angela Sherlock, Greenhills (kidney); Peter Heffernan, Skerries (kidney); Aoife Murray, Clonsilla, (liver); Michael Dwyer, Cabinteely (kidney); Leonard Ryan, Tallaght (kidney); and Deirdre Faul, Dalkey (liver).