TSUK Transplant Sport

A fantastic summer of sport in the UK is set to continue with the next big event, the Westfield Health British Transplant Games, taking place in just two weeks’ time.

Almost 1,000 recipients of life-saving organ transplant are taking part in the Games, which are being held in Medway, Kent from 23-26 August.

The participants, aged from two to 82 have all undergone life-saving organ transplantation and will compete in 14 sports ranging from archery, tennis and canoeing, to swimming and track and field, at a variety of venues in and around Medway.

The Games are organised on behalf of the charity Transplant Sport UK (TSUK) and are one of the biggest annual multi-sports events in the UK.

Staged annually since 1978, the Games aim to encourage transplant patients to regain fitness and to demonstrate the benefits of organ transplantation. However, the most important message is to promote awareness of the need for more people to sign on to the NHS Organ Donor Register and discuss their wishes with their families.

Lynne Holt, from TSUK, said: “We are really looking forward to this year’s Transplant Games. Olympic fever has really gripped the nation. We will be selecting our Team to represent the UK at next year’s World Transplant Games, to be held in Durban. Our transplant athletes are the best in the world, running the 100m in 11.16secs and swimming 50m Freestyle in .26secs. However, all our athletes are gold medallists, in that they have all won their race for life!.

“I would encourage anyone who has a love of sport to come down and watch our transplant athletes competing. The participants are truly inspirational and showcase the benefits of organ donation.”

To join the NHS Organ Donor Register, call 03001232323, text SAVE to 84118 or visit www.organdonation.nhs.uk.

ENDS

Issued on behalf of Transplant Sport UK by HR Media Ltd. For more information please contact Allie Dransfield at HR Media Ltd on 0773 052 7267, email allie@hrmedia.org.uk

Or contact Lynne Holt 07900014344, email office@transplantsport.org.uk

For further information on other activities at Transplant Sport UK, please go to www.transplantsportuk.org.uk

We would respectfully ask that in any articles that the following information is included:

To register on the NHS Organ Donor Register, please telephone 0300 123 23 23, text SAVE to 84118 or go to www.organdonation.nhs.uk to register online. Most importantly, please discuss your wishes with your family and friends – thank you

• Transplant Sport UK (TSUK) was founded in 1978 in Portsmouth by Consultant Transplant Surgeon Maurice Slapak. About 100 competitors took part in the first Games in a one day event which has now evolved to span four days, attracting more than 600 competitors and almost 1,000 supporters every year.

• The aim of the Games is to demonstrate the benefits of transplantation, encouraging transplant patients to regain fitness, whilst increasing public awareness of the need for more people to sign on the NHS Organ Donation Register and discuss their wishes now with their families.

• The 2012 Games will be held in Medway from 23-26 August.

• The Games have been staged annually since 1978 in a number of host cities including Portsmouth, Newcastle, Cardiff, Birmingham, Exeter, Liverpool, Belfast, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, Leicester, London, Manchester, Sheffield, Norwich, Loughborough, Bath and Coventry.

• The UK team will be selected following Medway to represent UK in the World Transplant Games being held in Durban, SA next year.