Transplant athletes are Malaga-bound this week
MALLOW AND MITCHELSTOWN REPRESENTED AT TRANSPLANT GAMES
THE 21st World Transplant Games are being held in Malaga this week with almost 1,000 competitors taking part and two have local links – one hails from Mallow and the other from Mitchelstown. The Corkman caught up with both athletes ahead of the tournament.
Mallow’s Pat O’Sullivan, is a kidney transplant recipient and is competing in the track and field events along with the long jump and golf. Pat, is married to Helen and they have two adult children, Carol and Patrick. Pat works at Irish Rail in Mallow. He received a kidney transplant in August 2015 having being diagnosed with end stage kidney failure in 2002.
“Malaga will be my first time competing in the Transplant Games. I hope to run in the 100m, 200m and the long jump. I competed a lot of these disciplines in my teens and hope to regain some of that old spark,” said Pat with a smile.
“I have also entered the golf in both the single and team event. I am looking forward to competing in the games and to be back in a team environment again after a long absence,” he said.
Pat will be joined by Michael Kiely from Kilglass in Mitchelstown.
Michael is also taking part in his first ever games. He is married to Mary and has his own haulier business.
Michael and his sister, Annette Betson underwent a living donor kidney transplant five years ago at Beaumont hospital. This life-changing event followed three years of haemodialysis treatment at CUH. Michael is a very active member of the Irish Kidney Association.
He told The Corkman that he is really looking forward to taking part at the World Transplant Games and has been busy preparing for the big event. Indeed, when The Corkman spoke to him he was on the golf course practising before he flew to Spain this week.
“It’s really amazing to take part in this. I have been practising my golf twice a week. I have my sister to thank for giving me a kidney. It’s been an amazing journey,” he said.
Michael will take part in the golf singles and golf team as well as petanque singles and swimming 100m freestyle.
“It is a privilege and honour to be able to represent my country as part of Transplant Team Ireland and by participating I hope to play my small part in helping to increase awareness about the huge importance of organ donation and acknowledge the wonderful legacy of organ donors and their families from all over the world,” he said.
The Transplant Games began on Monday and continue until July 2. The Irish Kidney Association is responsible for co-ordinating and managing Transplant Team Ireland’s participation.
There are 28 Irish competitors including nine women and 19 supporters joining others from over 50 countries in what is be the biggest gathering of transplant recipients this year – almost 1,000 competitors are registered to take on events as diverse as athletics, badminton, swimming, and ten pin bowling.