Father of 13, and grandfather of 12, Paul Prendergast was invited to speak to the Senior Infants class after his granddaughter Elli told her teacher about his experiences.

“I was delighted to talk to the children, though it was a nerve-wracking experience – tougher than taking part in the World Transplant Games! The teacher Miss O’Reilly made me very welcome and the children asked some very interesting questions,” said Paul, from Santry in Dublin.

Paul told the children at Our Lady of Victorys, Ballymun Road, Dublin, how he still leads a full life – including taking part in European and World games for transplant recipients – after a freak accident over ten years ago.

“I was never sick a day in my life. Then one day I was coming home from work on the bus when it hit a roundabout and I was thrown across the bus,” said Paul Prendergast.

“I suffered two broken ribs and the doctors told me I was very lucky – because the x-rays showed that I had polycystic kidneys.

“Basically, had it not been discovered, I could have dropped dead at any time had my creatine levels flared up.”

After three years on dialysis, the 59 year-old received a kidney transplant in 1999. “I have been in great health since then and I can’t thank my donor enough. I love my life and all the sports I do and I will keep it up for as long as I can,” he said.

Paul was a member of the Irish team which competed with distinction at the 16th World Transplant Games in August and September, 2007.

He was accompanied by his wife Rose on his trip to Thailand. “But I was left to fend for myself when I faced Elli and the rest of her class – that’s when I needed the support most of all,” joked Paul.

“The children were very inquisitive and asked intelligent questions. They were only in Senior Infants but they were very curious about the whole thing.”

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