Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Special memories from debut home Games
Monklands’four proud team members at the Transplant Games were proud to fly the host area’s flag as the event came to their home turf.
The 17 representatives in the debut Lanarkshire squad included Marie Grant of Whinhall, Craig Ferguson of Plains, James Regan from Townhead and Chapelhall teenager Joe Allan.
Craig had a leading role at the opening ceremony as he received the Transplant Sport flag on behalf of North Lanarkshire to begin the 40th Transplant Games.
He then took part in the fishing contest – just 11 weeks after his kidney transplant – and saw team mate Patrick O’Hara earn a silver medal to add to Lanarkshire’s tally of 16.
Craig, 26, said:“It went really well; we had a practice session last week, and our team mates came up in turn to keep us company during the day.
“The Games were fantastic and I can’t wait until next year; I hope I’m able to do more events and different sports, like archery and javelin.”
He said of the opening ceremony, attended by more than 1000 people:“It was a lot busier than I expected – we were the last team to enter in the parade, and there was a huge reception.
“I really enjoyed it, and the closing ceremony was great too; it was really good seeing people get special awards.
“Winning medals was a brilliant result for a new team; we’re looking forward to next year’s Games and we’ll stay together for that.
“I definitely think all the publicity will have opened some eyes to organ donation and maybe got some more people registering.”
He watched some of the play at the bowling contest at Coatbridge, where the players included local man James.
James told the Advertiser: “We gave a good account of ourselves, considering none of us had bowled before – going into the last game, there were three of us who still had a chance of reaching the final.
“The Games were fantastic, especially the ceremonies; I think it’ll be the start of something as the Lanarkshire team started from scratch but all gelled together and want to go to next year’s Games too.
“I wouldn’t have got involved without the Games coming to Lanarkshire – but it allowed us to be a team, talk to other people in the same situation who’d had kidney transplants, and to hear success stories and support one another.”