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Transplant Team Ireland

Friday
Sep 10th
Home arrow Athletes arrow Harry Ward arrow Retired Postman Harry Looks Forward to World Transplant Games
Retired Postman Harry Looks Forward to World Transplant Games PDF Print E-mail
Written by Liam Horan   
Saturday, 25 July 2009
ImageA 55 year-old retired Dublin postman 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. Baldoyle man Harry Ward is looking forward to competing in the life-affirming games, where, 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. Two years ago, Harry received ‘a new lease of life’ with his kidney transplant, after over three years on dialysis.
Previously, he had competed as a dialysis athlete in European Transplant & Dialysis Games in 2006, and as a transplant recipient in 2008.

“I made sure that the dialysis lived with me rather than me living with the dialysis. I went on holidays and I took part in sport which I would recommend to anyone,” said Harry, who will compete in lawn bowls, ten pin bowls, and badminton in Australia.

He picked up a gold medal in race-walking at the European Games in Hungary in 2006 and a silver in doubles badminton in 2008. “I am so thankful for my donation. It shows that there is life after transplantation.

ImageThere was life before transplantation but my life is so much better now,” added Harry, who will be joined by his wife Mary at the Games.

“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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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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Visit the Irish Kidney Assocation Website

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>> Official Games site