Hospital represented at Transplant Games

Seven inspirational transplant recipients will be representing Derriford Hospital at this year’s 2014 Westfield Health British Transplant Games.

Through a wide range of activities including archery, obstacle courses, table tennis, sports hall athletics, speed walking, badminton, sport stacking and many more, the South West team include:

• Janet Jenkins (Team Manager) from Plymouth competing in shot putt, discus, swim relay, swimming breast 50m, swimming breast 100m and ten-pin bowling

• Tracy Carrol from Cornwall competing in swimming backstroke 50m, swim relay, swimming butterfly 50m, swimming freestyle 50m and swimming freestyle 100m

• John Wollington from Plymouth competing in archery, bowls, badminton doubles, discus and ten-pin bowling

• Steve Jarvis from Cornwall competing in donor run, athletics relay, athletics 100m, high jump, long jump, athletics 400m and athletics 200m

• Keither Parsons from Plymouth competing in ball throw, cycling 5k time trial, javelin, athletics 100m and long jump

• Terry Wright from Looe competing in athletics 200m, table tennis, discus, athletics 100m and long jump

The British Transplant Games are the UK’s largest annual multisport event and have been running for over 30 years. Every year the games have grown and are held in different cities throughout the UK. This year, the event is being held in Bolton from 7-10 August 2014.

The Games host around 60 teams each year and the teams can range from 150 members to just 2 members, with ages of 5-85 competing!

One of the competitors, John Wollington, from Plymouth, successfully had his transplant five years ago and has been competing in the games ever since. He is thrilled to now be part of this year’s games.

He said "I am extremely excited for the games. Throughout the years I have made many friends throughout the UK and cannot wait to see everyone. I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for the donor families and all I want to do is raise awareness for the need of more organ donors. I was a lucky one, but so many don’t have that same chance."

Some of the competitors are then selected to represent Great Britain in the World Transplant Games of which seven of our own local team have been chosen and brought home many gold, silver & bronze medals plus world records too.

The aim of the games is to raise awareness of the NHS Organ Donor Register and to promote the value of organ donation. The event shows the amazing benefits of organ donation, it’s a way for recipients to express their gratitude to their donors for this gift of life. In 2013, the games were held in Sheffield and they saw the organ donor registrations in South Yorkshire alone, rise by more than 22,000 names.

For more information about how you can support the Games, visit www.britishtransplantgames.co.uk or follow @WHBTG on Twitter.

To add your name to the NHS Organ Donor Register visit www.organdonation.nhs.uk or call the NHS Donor Line on 0300 123 23 23.