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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 Athletes arrow Deirdre Faul arrow All Systems Go as Deirdre Takes Part in World Transplant Games
All Systems Go as Deirdre Takes Part in World Transplant Games PDF Print E-mail
Written by Colin White   
Saturday, 25 July 2009
ImageA Co. Dublin woman is off to Australia next month (AUGUST) as a member of the Irish team in the World Transplant Games – where, in their own eyes, all 19 team members are winners already by just getting to the starting-line. Deirdre Faul, Dalkey, Co. Dublin, 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. Deirdre had a liver transplant in 2003 after taking suddenly ill, but, since recuperating, she has lived life to the full and is a regular on the Irish transplant team.

The local Loughlinstown Leisure Centre has kindly agreed to put the use of a badminton court at their facility at the disposal of Deirdre and another local athlete Mick Dwyer, as they prepare the Games.  

“Every day we thank our donors,” was Deirdre’s emotional message to the Irish team on the eve of the last
World Transplant Games in Bangkok, Thailand, in 2007. On that occasion, she was captain of the Irish team which brought home a record-breaking 39 medals from the Games.

ImageA sporting all-rounder, she is now looking forward to this year’s Games, where she will compete in squash, badminton swimming and golf. She won six medals in the 2007 World Games, notably three gold in squash and golf, and over the years has also picked up medals in ten-pin bowling, cycling, badminton, and swimming.

Deirdre could not do this without the support of her parents or her two children Stephen and James, who have helped with the fund-raising, including a bag pack and race night, in order to raise the necessary funds before travelling with the Irish team.

“My fellow squash players, and my club Sandycove Tennis and Squash club have been fantastic this year and have given me tremendous support,” said Deirdre.

“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.

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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