Roscommon lady Monica Finn ordered her friends to slim down in a bid to send her on her way to represent Ireland in the World Transplant Games this month.

Monica organised a ‘Slimathon’ to raise funds for the trip and she will travel to Bangkok to compete in the 16th World Transplant Games, which run from Saturday, August 25th until Sunday, September 2nd.

“Myself and four friends went on a slimathon for two months and between us we managed to lose over five stone. It was a great way to raise the money and the local people have just been fantastic with their support,” said Monica, who has had two kidney transplants.

“I got my first transplant in 1986 after seven months on dialysis but unfortunately it gave up after eight and a half years.

“I was on home dialysis for four and a half years and then during Christmas of 1999 I got my second kidney transplant. I was absolutely delighted to get it and I have had great health since. I had nearly given up hope of ever getting another kidney at that stage.”

Now the Roscommon lady will compete for Ireland in the 100m sprint, the 3k walk, bowling and petanque.

“I would love to get a medal and I will do my best,” said Monica, who works in Glessons B&B and Restaurant in Roscommon town.

“The preparations are going very well. I go to the local ‘Bodyelite’ gym three times a week and they have actually sponsored me in the run up to the Games.”

Monica will be hoping to match the success of the first World Games she attended in Canada 2005, when she took home two bronze medals. She has also competed in the European Games in Hungary and Slovenia, taking home a total of seven medals.

“The Games are all about raising awareness and showing that there is life after the transplant. Without the organ donors we would not be here and we would not be able to take part. I can’t push organ donation enough,” said the mother of three.

“My partner Jimmy will accompany me to Bangkok and I will have a huge crowd cheering me on from home, including my three children and my brothers and sister.”

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.