World Transplant Games Bursary
Joe Burke, James Nolan, Darren Cawley and John "The Bullet" Loftus - Irish 4 x 100 metre relay Team at European transplant and dialysis Games, Wurzberg, Germany 2008.
Previously awarded to:
| Year | Recipient | Host Country |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Colm Clifford | Australia |
| 2007 | Michael Dwyer | Thailand |
| 2005 | Tony Gartland | Canada |
| 2003 | John Moran | France |
Michael Dwyer, at the 2007 World Transplant Games in Thailand.
5th European Transplant and Dialysis Games, Wurzberg, Germany
by James Nolan
It is impossible to know where best to start to try to describe the very special week that Transplant Team Ireland experienced at the recent 5th European Transplant and Dialysis Games that were held in Wurzberg, Germany but here goes…
For me sport has always been a hugely important part of my life. From riding round the Punchestown 3 Day Event whilst on dialysis, to trekking Everest and the Andes mountains and being able to compete at 8 very special Transplant and Dialysis Games once I was lucky enough to receive the Gift of Life from my sister Catherine. The one common theme that has run through all the Transplant Games I have been to, is that you realise how special it is to be part of Transplant Team Ireland. The emphasis is completely on participation. There is no one in the Team who worries how good or how bad you do, once you are out there trying your best - to participate to the best of your ability. It is like being a part of a uniquely special extended family.
Sport is hugely important for everyone in life but more so for Dialysis and Transplant Patients. The Games are a fantastic way to set yourself a goal and work on your fitness in order to compete at the Games. Whilst you are in training you become focussed on your goal to participate in a certain sport but when the Games are over you realise that just as important is the fact that you are giving yourself a much better chance in life by getting fit, losing a little weight and meeting lots of new friends. For me personally I had the satisfaction of completing the 100 meter, 200 meter, 400 meter, 800 meter and 4 × 100 meter races during 2 days of competition after enjoying the golf earlier in the week. I also had the pleasure of watching my fiancee Emma McHenry winning the ladies non transplant 5 km road race which was pretty special.
Anyone that wants to witness courage and the right attitude to life only had to look at all the Dialysis competitors. Peter Heffernan (CAPD) and Chikoyo White (Haemodialysis were participating in their first Games. Peter who managed to dialyise himself whilst enjoying one of the many wonderful sight seeing day trips and also managed to swim 5 different competitions in 1 day whilst also dialysing himself 4 times in the same day. Or Chikoyo, who competed in the 100 m and Ball Throw with the biggest smile on her face despite having her competition day sandwiched between 2 of her dialysis days. Or Darren Cawley from Mayo (well known to Kilcullen Ladies Mini Marathon Group) who was one of the Athletes of the Games and has competed as a Transplant Athlete in previous Games but is currently back on dialysis.He ran the 100 metres on Friday morning, followed by the 400 metres on Friday evening and managed the Ball Throw at lunch time. He then went off that evening and spent 4 hours on the life saving dialysis machine and did not get back to the Hotel till 1 am from the hospital on Friday night, yet he came out on the Saturday morning and ran the 200 metres and finished with the 4 × 100 metres that evening. The fact that he managed to do all this in 2 days was super human and the fact that he managed to win all 4 of his individual events despite tough competition and his dialysis was even more commendable.
All of the Dialysis participants showed how to make sure that Life was not being put on hold despite the hardship that dialysis can bring. This special attitude and spirit was mirrored by all the Transplant recipients who showed the immense benefits and a high appreciation of good health having received the GIFT OF LIFE. There was a lady from Austria who not alone was born blind but she had also come through a transplant. She did the 3 k run and 5 k walk and whislt she might not have won a medal she won everyones respect and admiration for her courage. You need to realise that Medals were secondary to the fact that most people competing had won thier own personal race by just being there and that this made for a really special spirit and atmosphere at the Games.
SPECIAL is a word I might have used a lot but it describes the week at the Games, the atmosphere amongst Transplant Team Ireland and the appreciation that we all realize just how lucky we are to be alive, healthy and well enough to be have been able take part in what was a Special Life experience in Wurzberg, Germany.
For those of you out there thinking about getting involved in sport in order to have a healthier lifestyle - just do it!!
© 2010 Punchestown Kidney Research Fund
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