Rachel – from Bettystown  – received a kidney transplant in June 1996.

“The illness came on suddenly. Within a week I got sick and was brought to Temple Street Children’s Hospital where I it was discovered I was suffering from renal failure,” said Rachel.

“I was on home dialysis for a year. It was for 12 hours every night but I was young so it didn’t bother me. I was on the transplant list for eight months which is good compared to others.”

The DIT student will compete in tennis and ten pin bowling at the 16th World Transplant Games which run from Saturday, August 25th until Sunday, September 2nd.

“I play tennis twice a week if I can. I will be hoping for a gold medal in the tennis singles. I might as well aim for the top,” said Rachel, who brought home two gold medals from the World Games in Canada two years ago.

“The Games are a great promotion for organ donation. It is a chance for us to show what we can do and show what can be achieved through organ donation.

“I organised a tennis marathon day at Laytown/Bettystown Tennis Club to raise money for the games. It was great crack and we raised €5,000. Teams of four were given sponsorship cards and they came down on the day and each played for an hour.”

Rachel was diagnosed with non-hodgkinsons lymphoma in October 2005 and finished treatment in March 2006.
“I have been relatively ok since and thankfully I haven’t had a relapse.”

And the brave Bettystown lady will celebrate her 21st birthday before she leaves for Bangkok.

“My birthday is on the 19th of August so I will probably do a little bit of celebrating with the rest of the Irish gang while I am over there,” added Rachel.

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.