The World Transplant Winter Games took place in the picturesque Valais resort of Anzere in Switzerland. Transplant recipients and living-donors took part in alpine ski-ing, cross country, biathlon, snow shoeing and curling, with the 14-person team from Great Britain and Northern Ireland coming away with gold medals for curling, and 24 medals in the alpine events (11 gold, 12 silver and one bronze).
Alpine racer Cameron McGregor-Ogden, former member of Manchester Ski Racing and Dragons Alpine, won four gold medals in slalom, parallel slalom, giant slalom and super-G three years after having a life-saving bone marrow transplant. During the closing ceremony Cameron also received the Outstanding Athlete of the Games Award, which was awarded for a combination of sporting success and sportsmanship.
“Ski racing was a really major part of my life until I fell ill with leukaemia in 2014. The transplant games were a great opportunity to get back into racing and enjoy the exhilaration and personal challenge of competing, whilst also taking part in an international celebration of life. There was great camaraderie amongst the racers who ranged from aged 8 to 70+, and from ex-national racers, race coaches and instructors, to enthusiastic novices. Anzere laid on a great programme, and the race piste, Le Luys, was a glorious combination of steeps, transitions and flats.”
Team GB have all had heart, lungs, kidney, pancreas, bone marrow or liver transplants. The World Transplant Winter Games provides a wonderful opportunity for transplant athletes to enjoy their new lease of life and demonstrate the benefits of organ donation.
Lynne Holt, Team Manager at Transplant Sport said: “Many of our transplant athletes have experienced near death situations and long illness, and it is very gratifying to see them able to enjoy a full life, thanks to organ donation. Without this ‘gift of life’, many of them would not now be alive. Every member of Team GB has already had to ‘climb a mountain’ to get through the transplant, and with their courage and determination, have enjoyed the thrills of being in the mountains in Switzerland. Hopefully this international event will encourage others to sign on to the Organ Donor Register, but most importantly, discuss their final wishes now with their families.”
Cameron said “It has been a great honour to compete in this international event as part of Team GB. While the games are about sporting endeavour and celebration of life, they are also a very important opportunity to express our thanks to our donors and donor families. I really hope that the team’s success at these games will raise awareness about the benefits of organ and bone marrow donation, and encourage people to talk with their families about their wishes.”
More than 6,000 people in the UK are currently waiting for a transplant and sadly, three people die waiting every day. But with only 32 per cent of the UK population actually registered as organ donors, more work needs to be done to raise awareness of donation and to urge those on the donor register to share their wishes with loved ones, who ultimately give, or in 40% of potential donor families, do not give, consent.
NHS Organ Donor Register -Transplant patients owe their lives to the generosity of others, who donate the ‘Gift of Life’. Please help to raise public awareness about transplantation and sign up on the Organ Donor register. To register, and for more information please go to www.organdonation.nhs.uk, or contact the NHS Organ Donor Line on 0300 123 23 23
To join the Anthony Nolan bone marrow donor register or for further information go to http://www.anthonynolan.org/
Issued on behalf of the charity Transplant Sport. For more information about Team Great Britain, please contact Lynne Holt l.holt@transplantsport.org.uk or 07900014344
For more information on WTG 2018, visit :www.wtgf.org/wintergames
Transplant Sport is the charity which organises sports and social events for transplant recipients to demonstrate the benefits of organ donation and prove that you can lead a normal and active life again after transplantation. Transplant Sport host the British Transplant Games every year and participants of all ages and ability enjoy taking part in over 20 different events. All have received a lifesaving transplant and celebrate their gift of life together. The transplant athletes also compete at the World Transplant Games which runs every two years and the World Winter Games. Transplant Sport actively promotes the importance of having the organ donation conversation with families and friends, ensuring that they are aware of individual wishes on organ donation, and do not refuse to give consent because of a lack of knowledge. Whichever legislation is agreed throughout the UK, opt in or opt out, the family will still have the final say. 40% of potential donor families are currently not consenting to organ donation. Transplant Sport supports any public education initiatives that will improve the family consent rate and save more lives.? For more information visit Transplant Sport
The World Transplant Games Newcastle, Gateshead will take place from 17-24 August 2019.
For more information on the World Transplant Games Newcastle, Gateshead 2019 visit www.worldtransplantgames.org
NHS Organ Donor Register -Transplant patients owe their lives to the generosity of others, who donate the ‘Gift of Life’. Please help to raise public awareness about transplantation and sign up on the Organ Donor register.
To register, and for more information please go to www.organdonation.nhs.uk, or contact the NHS Organ Donor Line on 0300 123 23 23
Submitted by Sue McGregor-Ogden