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Transplant Team Ireland

Countdown to World Transplant Games - Sweden 2011   2011-6-17 17:00:00 GMT+00:00

Home arrow Catherine MURPHY arrow Cork Woman Catherine Destined for World Transplant Games in Australia
Cork Woman Catherine Destined for World Transplant Games in Australia PDF Print E-mail
Written by Colin White   
Saturday, 25 July 2009
ImageA Co. Cork woman is off to Australia next month (AUGUST) as a member of the Irish team in the World Transplant Games – and, in their own eyes, all 19 team members are winners already by just getting to the starting-line. Catherine Murphy, Aghabullogue, is looking forward to competing in the life-affirming games, and, between them, the Irish team have 13 new kidneys, five new livers and one new kidney-pancreas.

The squad will travel to Gold Coast, Australia, on Tuesday, August 18th. Catherine had a liver transplant in 2001 as a result of Budd Chiarri syndrome, which is a clot on the portal hepatic vein.

“I was so lucky to get a donor. I wouldn’t be here without the generosity of the people who choose to donate their organs,” she said.

“It was only after I had the transplant that I realised the importance of organ donors and cards. That’s why I take part in Games like these, because I want to give thanks for the gift of the transplant.”

Sporty Catherine is a member of the Inniscarra Pitch and Putt Club and the Aghabullogue Badminton Club.

She also played Camogie with UCC and Watergrasshill when she was younger. She has won four medals at previous World and European Games, and will compete in race-walking, sprinting, and lawn bowls.

“It’s not really about winning, it’s all about taking part. We honour our donors by showing that organ transplantation works. That’s a vital message to promote as the need for a life-saving organ transplant can visit a family with devastating speed, and at any age, even babies and children,” said team captain Mick Dwyer, who ten years ago had a kidney transplant.

Many of the athletes are accompanied by families and friends anxious to join with them in celebrating the new lives granted them by transplantation. Local sponsors have helped the athletes defray the cost of taking part.

Catherine will be joined at the World Games by her husband Murt, and her daughter Annette.

Team manager Colin White paid tribute to the determination of the athletes taking part. “They have worked very hard to prepare for the Games, and they will help to show the world that you can enjoy a great life after receiving a transplant,” he said.

The full Irish team is:
Paul Donohoe (Cavan); Michael Dwyer (captain, Dublin); Deirdre Faul (vice-captain, Dublin); Tony Gartland (Wicklow); James Hannon (Longford);  John Loftus (Limerick); Philip Martin (Dublin); Tom Metcalfe (Dublin); Linda Meyler (Galway); Catherine Murphy (Cork); James Nolan (Kildare); John Paul O’Neill (Kilkenny); Paul Prendergast (Dublin); Orla Hogan-Ryan (Tipperary); Charlie Ryan (Cork); Leonard Ryan (Dublin); Angela Sherlock (Dublin); Harry Ward (Dublin); and Vienna White (Donegal.)
The team will be accompanied by manager Colin White; team doctor Emer Kilbride; physio Clare Hogan; and Mark Murphy, the CEO of the Irish Kidney Association, who is also a member of the World Transplant Games governing body. The team kit is sponsored by Shire Pharmaceuticals.

A special website has been built – www.transplantteamireland.com – where supporters can follow the team’s progress and send on messages of support. The site profiles each athlete and will carry daily updates on how the athletes are getting on.

For an organ donor card FREETEXT the word ‘DONOR’ to 50050.
 
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Give the gift of life. For organ donor cards free text the word ‘DONOR’ to 50050 or log on to www.ika.ie for more information.

 

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News reports from World Games

Laura Cassin will be providing regular reports from the 2011 World Transplant Games for Irish newspapers, radios, and websites. To obtain reports, email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .


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