Rachel takes home silver at Transplant Games
LOCAL woman Rachel Eagleton (30) is celebrating this week after winning a Silver medal in Tennis at the World
Transplant Games in Malaga.
Rachel pipped teammate Aoife Murray (also age 30) to the post for the title of youngest member of the current panel for
Transplant Team Ireland.
From Bettystown, County Meath, Rachel is the only daughter of her parents Tom and Gladys and she has one brother, Mark.
Rachel and her family will celebrate the 21st anniversary this year of her kidney transplant from a deceased donor which she underwent just before her 10th birthday in June 1996.
Although not a newcomer to the team, Rachel took time out from Transplant Sport for a few years to pursue work and studies.
Now that all her hard work has paid off as she has just qualified as an ACCA Accountant she has more time to give to her love of tennis.
Rachel represented Ireland at two previous World Transplant Games when they were held in Canada and Thailand.
In Canada she won two Gold medals for Tennis singles and doubles. And in Thailand she secured a place on the medals podium.
She also won two Gold medals for tennis singles and doubles in Wurzburg, Germany at the European Transplant & Dialysis Games in 2008.
Speaking before she travelled to Malaga to take part in the games, Rachel said: ‘I look forward to returning to Transplant Team Ireland as it’s such good fun with great team spirit and camaraderie. By taking part in the Games, our team and all the participants from around the world are showcasing how important organ donation is and the difference it can make for transplant recipients and their families.’