Belfast Team
Contact Details for the Belfast Team
Frankie O'Kane
Email: Frankie.o'kane@belfasttrust.hscni.net
Mobile: 07825 180798
The Northern Ireland Transplant Games or commonly known at the Games as the Belfast Team (adults and children) consists of transplant recipients from all over Northern Ireland. Currently there are over 50 competitors on our books with an active yearly participant entry of between 12-20+ adult competitors and approximately 8-10 children attending the British Games each year. Our team currently is made up of kidney, bone marrow and most recently a liver recipient.
Over the years the 'Belfast' Team have been been very successful winning countless medals and our competitor performances have earned us the Ross Taylor Rosebowl fror the Top Team of the Games 8 out of the last 10. These performances have also earned many competitors over the years places on the UK Team for the World Games.
The Belfast Adult Team primarily is supported by Northern Ireland Kidney Research Fund. NIKRF is a voluntary organisation set up over 35 years ago to raise funds for Research into the cause and cure of kidney disease here in Northern Ireland as well as highlighting the need for organ donation and transplantation. For the World Games, the Belfast City Hospital Renal and Haematology Departments also help with regard to sponsorship as well. Our Children are supported by the Children's Renal Fund based at the Royal Victoria Hospital for Sick Children. The Belfast Team acknowledges and thanks the support and encouragement of these organisations.
One of our longest serving competitors is the legendary Joe Raffo. Joe who received a kidney transplant 35 years ago and has attended all but one of the 31 British Transplant Games. At his first games in Portsmouth in 1977 he competed in the athletic events but decided he would like to try swimming the following year - came home to Belfast took swimming lessons and since has won medals every year in the swimming events.
The Belfast Team welcomes anyone who is willing to compete - you dont have to be a successful swimmer or athletic it is the taking part that is important.
If you would like any further information please do not hesitate to contact us at the above contact details.
