On her return from Thailand in early September, she hopes that, along with the anniversary of her transplant, she will be celebrating another World medal.

The brave Sligo woman underwent a kidney and pancreas transplant seven years ago and her life has been transformed ever since.

“I was chronically ill waiting on a transplant and I lived on daily insulin injections for almost 30 years. But thanks to the generosity of a donor family, my life was turned around – ill health and dialysis have been replaced by a full and active life,” said Bridie, who is a native of Calry but now lives in Sligo town.

“And I am one of the very few people who can say that they have been cured completely of diabetes.”

The Sligo lady will travel to Bangkok for the 16th World Transplant Games which run from Saturday, August 25th until Sunday, September 2nd, where she will represent her country for the third time.

“I am great believer in daily exercise, and clearly it has stood by me.  I left hospital after the transplant seven years ago and I have never been an in-patient since.  I have had no setbacks and I think this is a great inspiration to those waiting for transplants,” she added.

Bridie stresses the importance of organ donors and the need to create a greater awareness of the benefit of organ donation.

“During my recent fundraising efforts for the games, I constantly promoted all aspects of donorship, from encouraging people to discuss the possibly of donor ship with family members to carrying donor cards,” she said.

“People were able to speak and see at first hand how a transplant changed my life and the difference it has made to the quality of my life.”

An employee at Sligo Library Headquarters, her main sport is petanque and she practices at the purposely-built pitch at the Mitchell Curley Park in Sligo. This month she will compete for a World medal in petanque, shot putt, ball throw and ten pin bowling.

You can follow the athletes’ progress on www.transplantteamireland.com. For an organ donor card free text the word ‘DONOR’ to 50050 or for more information log on to www.ika.ie.