“A man I had never met before promised to give me €1,000 towards my sponsorship of the games. I thought he was only joking, but sure enough the cheque arrived in the post,” said the 39 year-old, who works part-time in world-famous O’Connor’s Bar, Doolin.

Marie underwent her second kidney transplant in 1998 after an unsuccessful transplant in 1996. “I was quite competitive before I got sick. I played football and camogie. When the doctors said I said I couldn’t play contact sport I was devastated,” she added.

“But my motto in life is that you don’t give up. I started to play golf and I really enjoy it.”

Marie will represent Ireland in golf, squash and two track events. And she feels she already has the gold medal in the bag.

“We have the medals won already. My gold medal is my kidney. I just want to give thanks for my transplant. It sure beats being tied up to a machine.”

The World Transplant Games run from Saturday, August 25th until Sunday, September 2nd.

Marie first became sick just before Christmas in 1990. She was three months in hospital before her kidney problems were diagnosed. After three and a half years on dialysis Marie received a kidney in 1996. “The dialysis is tough but you get used to it, it becomes a part of your life,” she said.

Unfortunately the transplant did not take and the Clare received a second kidney donation in 1998. This year she will celebrate the ninth anniversary of the second transplant.

“People are forgetting about the here and now, but it is so important, that’s why I live for the moment,” added Marie.

You can follow the team’s progress on www.transplantteamireland.com.

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