Irish kids join in medal haul at British Transplant Games

IRISH transplant athletes including seven adults and three children showed their mettle with an impressive sweep of 22 medals at the British Transplant Games which were held in Newport, Wales recently.

The haul included 10 Gold, nine Silver and three Bronze.

Two Irish liver transplant children, Laura McDowell (10), from Dalkey and Tara Madigan (12) from Castleconnell, Limerick seized five Gold and one Silver medal between them under the banner 'the Dublin Transplant Children's Team'.

Also on their team, and a liver transplant recipient was welcome newcomer Elliott Richards (12), from Killiney.

The British Transplant Games competition is based on teams from transplant centres across the UK. Ireland is also invited to participate, and is represented by the Dublin Transplant Children's team and the Dublin Transplant Adults' team.

Both teams come under the banner of Transplant Team Ireland, which is the sports programme organised by the Irish Kidney Association. The seven adult members on the team will be among the 38 athletes representing Ireland at the World Transplant Games which will be held in Newcastle Gateshead from August 17-24.

Colin White, Manager Dublin Transplant Adults Team Manager and Transplant Team Ireland said: “The two Irish teams performed fantastically well at the Games and with the adults also competing in the World Transplant Games in Newcastle, it was a great test event.

“The weather in Newport was fantastic. The opportunity to meet so many other transplant recipients, as well as donor families, was humbling. It was great to have an opportunity to promote the fact that we are hosting the European Transplant & Dialysis Sports Championships in Dublin next year and we look forward to extending the same warm welcome that we have always received at the British Transplant Games.

“This year the Irish children's team welcomed new team manager, Aoife O'Gorman, and the future is looking bright with a concerted drive planned to recruit new families in preparation for next year's Games in Coventry.

“Families who are interested can contact me at the Irish Kidney Association for more information."

Laura McDowell, competing in the younger 9-11 year age category, reigned supreme in all of her three events seizing three Gold medals for knocking her competition out in tennis, the long jump and the 3km run.

The Irish Kidney Association is working with Children's Liver Disease Ireland and Heart Children Ireland to establish a transplant children's sports programme that will offer opportunities for all transplanted children, and their families.