Mark Brown of Grange Avenue Ruddington returned recently from the 9th Winter World Transplant Games. La Chapelle d’Abondance in France with a gold in Team Curling. There were 214 competitors from 19 countries including 12 transplant recipients representing Great Britain.
La Chapelle d’Abondance (coincidentally only three miles down the valley from Chatel) was his sixth Games and he entered all the downhill events – Giant Slalom, Slalom, Parallel Slalom, and 150m Schuss, along with the more sedate Team Curling.
The curling had a close fought final end, with the judge measuring the final stones to declare Team GB had beaten France to the gold (by less than an inch!), retaining the title won two years earlier in Switzerland. He also came back with a silver medal in the team slalom.
Team GB returned home with 4 Gold, 6 Silver and 6 bronze medals, coming a credible 9th in the medal league table!
The Games provide a wonderful opportunity for transplanted athletes to enjoy their new lease of life and to demonstrate the benefits of organ donation, offering transplanted athletes an opportunity to live life to the full and give thanks to organ donor families on a world stage. Hopefully the publicity surrounding this international event will encourage others to sign on to the Organ Donor Register, but most importantly, discuss their final wishes with their families now.
Please help us to raise public awareness about transplantation and the Organ Donor register. For further information on how to sign the Organ Donor Register, visit www.organdonation.nhs.uk or call 0300 123 23 23 or text SAVE to 84118. Sign up today and give the gift of life.