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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 Officials arrow Colin WHITE arrow Balbriggan Man will Manage Irish Team at 17th World Transplant Games
Balbriggan Man will Manage Irish Team at 17th World Transplant Games PDF Print E-mail
Written by Colin White   
Wednesday, 29 July 2009
ImageA Balbriggan sportsman will travel to Australia next month (AUGUST) as manager of the Irish team competing in the World Transplant Games. In total, the Irish team have 13 new kidneys, five new livers and one new kidney-pancreas – and by just getting to the starting-line, they are already winners.

Colin White, whose wife Chikoyo has been on haemodialysis for over eight years, brings a wealth of experience to his role as team manager. This will be his seventh time to manage the Irish team at a major Games.

Two years ago, he guided the team to a record haul of 39 medals from the Games, which attract over 2,000 entrants from 49 countries.

“I am really looking forward to the Games,” said Colin, a full-time employee of the Irish Kidney Association.

“The achievement of just getting to the starting-line is enormous for all our athletes, who have come through difficult times in their lives and still remain positive and enthusiastic about life.”

“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 squad will travel to the Gold Coast on Tuesday, August 18th.

Colin’s job involves the mammoth task of co-ordinating all arrangements for the team before and during the Games. The long journey to Australia brings its own challenges, but Colin’s vast experience will stand him in good stead.

“I enjoy the thrill of competition and getting our team there. I have always had an interest in sport, and take part in running, swimming and cycling myself,” added Colin.

“When I lived and worked in Botswana, I took an athlete from scratch and she went on to represent her country in international cross-country competition. Successes like that are very rewarding, and I get that buzz from working with the Irish team for transplant and dialysis competition.”
In 2008, Colin finished third in the 5km road race held for supporters and the public, at the European Transplant & Dialysis Games in Wurzburg, Germany.

“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.

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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