A Westport, Co. Mayo, man is about to travel to Germany to take part in a major European Games – but his main purpose in competing is to promote the need for organ donation.

Darren Cawley, Knockrooskey, Westport, has been on haemodialysis after the past six years, when a previous kidney transplant failed after two successful years.

Darren will be one of 24 Irish athletes taking part in the fifth European Transplant & Dialysis Games which kick off next Sunday, August 31^st, in Wurzburg, Germany. The Games will run for a week.

 “I have been on dialysis since 2003, which involves a trip to Mayo General Hospital in Castlebar three days a week. I received a kidney transplant in 2001, but that failed two years later,” said Chikoyo.

It is important for people on dialysis to keep fit and healthy as possible to ensure that they are in the best shape to handle a transplant operation should an opportunity arise.

“More than anything else, these events are about promoting awareness of the value of organ donation. They keep this very important issue to the forefront of people’s minds,” said Darren, who was one of Ireland’s leading athletes at the World Transplant Games in Japan in 2001, and at subsequent European Games in Hungary and Slovenia. He won medals at 100m, 200m, and 400m.

The European Transplant and Dialysis Games also promote the idea of healthy living through sport.

Ireland’s 24 athletes will be joined by family and friends. Among the group of supporters will be Darren’s girlfriend Aoife Mitchell, who is also from Westport. “It’s not just about the medals, but about the chance to promote organ donation. That’s what makes these Games so special,” said team manager Colin White.

You can follow the progress of the Irish team 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.