A Galway woman living and working in Australia will represent Ireland at the World Transplant Games next month. Sinead McGowan from Renmore in Galway underwent a kidney transplant in October 2009. Her brother Seamus washer donor. Some photos are attached of Sinead taken at the previous biennial World Transplant Games when they were held in Malaga and where she won a Silver medal for the 5K road race event.
With just over a month before 39 members of Transplant Team Ireland
depart for the World Transplant Games, they gathered at ALSAA Sports Complex
Dublin airport on Sunday, 7th July for a motivational talk by international
Para athlete Mary Fitzgerald. Ranging in age from 16 to 81, the team of 29 men
and 10 women have all undergone organ transplants including 1 heart, 1 lung, 5
liver, 1 bone marrow and 31 kidney. The largest ever Irish Transplant Team
travelling abroad, they will be among 2000 participants from over 60 countries
who will take part in the World Transplant Games 2019 in Newcastle Gateshead,
UK next month (17-24 August).
Nineteen-year-old Mary Fitzgerald, Irish Paralympics Team, from
Kilkenny, took time to demonstrate to the Transplant Team her mighty throwing
prowess, which has earned her numerous international accolades, despite her
young age, for Discus, Shot Putt and Javelin. Her determination and hard work
have earned her a place on the Irish Para Athletics Team and she hopes to
qualify for the World Para Athletics Championships in Dubai in November and the
Paralympics in Tokyo, Japan in 2020.
Mary, who is studying Occupational Therapy at University College Cork,
said, “I would like to express my
delight to meet athletes from Transplant Team Ireland. They have all faced
health challenges with uncertain futures. Sport has a huge part to play in our
wellbeing and it unites people. Transplant Team Ireland shares my excitement,
pride and heartfelt honour to be able to represent our country. The
inspirational men and women on the team demonstrate the immeasurable benefits
of sport and showcase the importance of organ donation to the general public.
The World Transplant Games celebrate the power of sport and the gift of life.”
The Irish Kidney Association is responsible for Ireland’s involvement in
the Games and the National Projects Manager Colin White (from
Balbriggan, Dublin) is the team manager. Speaking about the Games, he
said, “I am excited about the diverse nature of this
year's squad who will represent Ireland at the World Transplant Games 2019. We cover a wide range of sports and have a
variety of levels of experience too. Our 5 competitors over the age of 70 are a
fantastic example to us all in that sport can, and should, be a life-long
habit. Each competitor is an ambassador in their own right and collectively the
team sends out a wonderfully uplifting message about how life can be
post-transplant”.
Newly elected National Honorary Chairman of the Irish
Kidney Association Colin MacKenzie (from Portmarnock, Dublin) said, “the Irish Kidney Association is delighted to show its support for the Federation of Irish Sport's 20x20 initiative (www.20x20.ie) which is
aimed at promoting the profile and involvement of women in sport. We are committed
to increasing the profile of women involved in our sports programme through our
website and social media channels. With our hosting of next year's European
Transplant & Dialysis Sports Championships in Dublin next summer whilst our
primary goal is to promote
the importance and success of organ donation for transplantation, we will also
be sending out a rallying
call to increase the number of women on our national sports team”.
Athletes will compete in their respective age categories in the following
events: badminton, cycling, darts, golf, petanque, squash, swimming, table
tennis, ten pin bowling, tennis, mini-marathon, and track and field.
This year the team has
gratefully received support from Swim Ireland, Athletics Ireland and Irish
Squash. The on-going coaching support from Swim Ireland has been particularly
welcomed. Astellas Pharma Ltd. has again provided some sponsorship towards the
costs of running the team.
For more information on
World Transplant Games and the Irish athletes visit the Irish team blog www.transplantteamireland.ie
Visit the Games
website www.worldtransplantgames.org
THE FULL
IRISH PANEL IS AS FOLLOWS…
ANTRIM: John McAleer, Newtownabbey (kidney) (oldest
member of the team)
CAVAN: Aodhagan Cullen, Cavan (kidney)
CLARE: Marie O’Connor, Lahinch (kidney)
CORK: Mike Keohane, Rosscarbery (Liver), Charlie Ryan, Cobh (Liver), Michael Kiely, Mitcheltown,
on the Limerick border
(Kidney); Pat O’Sullivan, Mallow (Kidney), Michael O’Shea, Mallow (Heart).
DONEGAL: Kieran Murray, Ramelton (Kidney)
GALWAY: Sinead McGowan, Renmore (living in
Australia) (Kidney).
KERRY: Anna Pokojska, Killarney via Poland Did the
Ring of Kerry Cycle previous day (Kidney).
KILDARE: James Nolan, Kilcullen, International award
winning butcher – underwent a living donor kidney transplant 32 years
ago (Kidney).
KILKENNY VIA
LIMERICK: Emma O’Sullivan (Kidney).
LIMERICK via
UK: Trevor Lynch,
Cappamore, (Bone Marrow).
LOUTH: Tommy Marrett, Ardee
(Kidney).
MAYO via
UK: Julie O’Neill,
Westport- Award winning businesswoman, underwent living donor
transplant from brother 37 years ago (Kidney);
MEATH: Tony Gavigan, Navan & native of LONGFORD father
of deceased donor (kidney),Jerome Lyness, Navan,(Kidney),
Rachel Eagleton, Bettystown - youngest
female on the team (33) (Kidney), Jack O’Brien, Navan, - youngest member of the team (16) (kidney).
MONAGHAN: Tomas Flannery, Tandarageebane (Lung).
TIPPERARY: Orla Hogan, Nenagh (Kidney); Sheila Gregan, Nenagh
(Kidney);
WATERFORD via
Dublin: Eoin Hurley(age 25, Genetics
student at TCD)(Kidney).
WESTMEATH: Finian Farrell, Mullingar (Kidney), Noel
Marsden, Athlone (Kidney), John Connell, Mullingar, living in South
Africa (Kidney).
WICKLOW: Garry Campbell, Greystones (kidney), Philip
Kavanagh, Arklow (Liver).
DUBLIN: Ron Grainger, Castleknock, D.15 (Kidney). Harry
Ward, Team Captain, Baldoyle, D.13 (Kidney), Paul Prendergast,
Santry, D.9 (Kidney), Anthony Byrne, Artane (Kidney), Peter Heffernan, Skerries
(Kidney), Leonard Ryan, Tallaght (Kidney), Aoife Murray, Clonsilla, (Liver),Michael Dwyer, Cabinteely (Kidney),
Deirdre Faul, Dalkey (Liver), John
Moran, Glasnevin, celebrating 34th anniversary of
living donor transplant from brother (Kidney).
TEAM MANAGER, Colin White from Balbriggan, Dublin
For
organ donor cards Freetext DONOR to 50050 or visit website www.ikw.ie/get-a-donor-card
You
can also download the IKA’s digital organ donor to your
smartphone. Your wishes to be an organ donor can also be
included on the new format driving licence which is indicated on the back of
the card by Code 115.
