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everyone loves the Irish and they
look on with envy at the strong
team spirit evident throughout
the week.
Being a supporter, be it at the
World, European or UK
Championships is a unique
experience – both humbling and
inspiring. All the athletes have
faced enormous personal
challenges, most had undergone
transplant operations and others
have to undergo dialysis for
several hours. Yet this never
diminishes the enthusiasm and
excitement as they participate in
their chosen sports – I can only
look on with great admiration.
They are all winners already.
Whilst all the athletes want to
do well, it is always the donor
that is the centre of their
thoughts. It would be so
heartening for donor families to
experience the deeply felt
emotional tug that each has to
their donor and the donor’s
family and this is openly spoken
about during the week. It is clear
that Organ Donation works – you
can see it in the faces of the
athletes as they proudly carry
their country’s flag in the
opening ceremony, as they
compete in their sports, as they
step on the podium to receive
their medal.
This ‘Yes We Can’ attitude of
Transplant Team Ireland must
surely give encouragement for
others on a similar health
journey, it must surely comfort all
donor families who get to see
the impact that the ‘Gift of Life’
can have and it definitely
changes lives. I would encourage
everyone to carry a donor card
and have that conversation with
a loved one – organ donation
is vital as over 600 people await
a transplant in Ireland. Organ
Donation works – it was vividly
evident in Helsinki where the
athletes and teams from all over
Europe showed us the awesome
power that transplant sport has
to change lives – Hel-Yeah!
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