Garry takes gold at Transplant Games
GARRY CAMPBELL from Greystones won a Gold medal in Golf last week on the beautiful Guadalhorce Golf Course in Malaga at the 21st World Transplant Games in Malaga.
‘I was exhausted at the end of the event but I am delighted,’ said Garry. ‘I was surprised to have won the Gold. I wouldn’t have made it around if it wasn’t for my son Gavin caddying for me. He kept me hydrated and in the shade.
‘It was a great day. I met up with old friends on the golf course. I am really looking forward to the rest of the week. I would like to acknowledge my son, daughter and their partners and my grandson who are out here this week supporting me. I would also like to thank Karl Holmes at Greystones Golf Club for helping me prepare for the games. My donor is of course at the forefront of my mind. This week is a fantastic example of how organ donation works.’
Transplant Team Ireland included four liver and 23 kidney transplant recipients ranging in age from 30 to 79, competing against almost 1000 participants from more than 50 countries at the largest gathering of transplant recipients this year.
The Irish Kidney Association is responsible for coordinating and managing Transplant Team Ireland’s participation at European and World Transplant Games events.
Garry was one of a 27-strong Irish team. Some of the sporting greats to wish them well as they departed were Martin O’Neill, Ruby Walsh, Mickey Harte, Alan Brogan and David Hickey, who is a transplant surgeon as well as being a former Dublin footballer. Kilkenny hurling star Michael Fennelly and Olympic Council of Ireland president Sarah Keane also congratulated them. Spanish Ambassador José María Rodriguez- Coso also expressed his good wishes and held a reception for the members of the team at his residence in Dublin the week before they left for the games.
Garry is a kidney transplant recipient and returned to the games this year after taking a few years out.
Garry is married to Una and they have two adult children and one grandchild. In September 2017 Garry and his family will celebrate the 21st anniversary of his life changing kidney transplant which he underwent when he was 41 years old. Garry feels fortunate that he was only on the transplant waiting list for a year until his deceased donor kidney transplant came along.
Garry has participated in three previous World Transplant Games, taking home gold from France, silver from Canada, and bronze from the games in Thailand.