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What the Games

mean to me…

n 2004 I participated in my first sports
event organised by the Irish kidney
Association (IKA). I will never forget
Ithe day – the rain was horizontal! I am
not a very sporty person but I wanted to
meet other people on dialysis and
transplant recipients also and I hoped to
become part of a community. I was
delighted to have been met with warm
friendship.
Rolling on a few years, I had the of us on dialysis on the team this year and
opportunity to travel to Germany in 2008 I hope that our example will show others
to compete in the 5th European Transplant what can be achieved even when you are
By
& Dialysis Games. By this time I was seven on dialysis. It is not only about the
CHIKOYO WHITE
years on dialysis and I already counted competition, it is about travelling, meeting
many of the people on the Irish team as new people and being part of something
my friends. The Games were something to special.
look forward to and during the week we I really enjoyed our time in Finland and I
were in Germany, I really enjoyed the managed to pick up some medals too – a
friendship and sense of fun in the team big ‘thank you’ to my dialysis partner Linda
and with all the competitors and Waters. We teamed up to win a bronze
supporters from across Europe. Much to medal in doubles petanque! The food in
my surprise I came home with two Finland was ‘interesting’ but the Irish team
medals! is always good at coming up with plans to
I also took part in the European Games cope so we ate well throughout the week.
in Dublin in 2010 and I was delighted to The dialysis facilities were excellent and
travel to Poland for the 2014 the staff were really friendly. I am on home
Championships in Krakow. At both events haemodialysis normally but I was able to
my friendship circle grew and it was very attend a dialysis unit and they let me
motivating to meet other people on needle myself so all was good.
dialysis and hear about all they were Every single person on the team helped
managing to achieve in their lives. make my experience in Finland a
When we were leaving Krakow in 2014 wonderful one and for that I am truly
I was already looking forward to travelling grateful. I hope that I added something to
to Finland in 2016. It was a great the team also!
motivator to I strongly recommend the European
keep involved Transplant & Dialysis Sports Championships
with Transplant to anyone on dialysis, and transplant
Team Ireland recipients too. I would also encourage you
and to look to travel with a supporter or two (family or
after myself friends) so that you can share the
because I experience and when you get home you
wanted to be fit can also share the memories. I am
enough to take fortunate that I get to share the experience
on the trip. with my husband every time – though as
I was Team Manager he is usually busy but it
delighted that adds something special to the experience
there were six to be able to share it with a loved one!

26 IKA S UPPORT W INTER 2016