On 1 August, the Devon and Cornwall Transplant Games Team took a team of nine competitors to compete in the British Transplant Games in Nottingham. Eight of the participants have received a renal transplant, while one is a live donor. Three contenders had their transplants at Derriford Hospital and are being followed up at UHP, while a live donor also had her operation at UHP. Sharon Masters is our live donor who had the operation at UHP.
The event, held over four days, aims to raise awareness of the life changing benefits of organ donation and encourages transplant patients to stay active through sport. The games increase public awareness of the ongoing need for people to confirm their organ donation decision, and families are more likely to support organ donation when they know that it is what their relative wished to do.
The British Transplant Games are the flagship event of charity Transplant Sport, and will be held in Nottingham from 1 to 4 August 2024. This year marks the 46th anniversary of the games.
Transplant survivors of all ages, from 22 months to 88 years old, compete in 25+ different sports over the four-day event, representing hospitals across the UK where they received their organ transplant.
Currently across the UK around 7,600 people, including 250 children, are waiting for an organ transplant. However, on average, only around 1,500 people donate each year. On average someone dies every day waiting for a transplant.
Sponsorship for the team members to attend the Transplant Games has been kindly provided by Renal Unit Trust Fund and Exeter and District Kidney Patients’ Association.
UHP is proud to cheer on our patients and best of luck all the competitors taking part. Follow the Devon & Cornwall Transplantees progress on Facebook.