The athlete, who lives on Beaumont Road, will compete in bowling and the badminton singles and doubles at the European Transplant and Dialysis Games in Wurzburg, Germany from August 31 to September 7.

A broken toe early this year threatened to jeopardise her chances at the Games, but a bout of military-style training over a month ago brought Sandra back up to her fitness levels. “My friends joked that it was a boot camp but it helped me get back my fitness level beck on track,” she said.

“It meant going to a park in Swords two evenings a week to be given some military training by ex-military personnel. There was a group of us in it, and it helped to get my fitness levels up, though it was very tough.”

Sandra, who works in administration at the Central Fisheries Board in Swords, owes her health to a liver transplant she underwent in January 2003.
“I was sick on and off for eight to ten years. But in the last year two years before the transplant I was fairly ill. I was four months on the waiting list for a transplant,” said Sandra.

“Literally the day I got the transplant I felt better. Thank God I have never looked back since. I have gotten my life back and I have much more energy now.”

Sandra is extremely grateful that she had a relatively short wait on the list for a liver transplant and the fact that her ‘gift of life’ was possible through the generosity of others. “I am a walking picture of the importance of organ donation. Unfortunately someone has to go before you get the transplant but they have given me the best gift of all - the gift of life,” said Sandra.

“The call could come at any time of the day or night but nothing prepares you for the moment when you get that call. Thankfully I’m one of the lucky ones who got that call.”

The European Games aim to highlight the importance of organ donation and promote the idea of healthy living through sport.
Indeed the badminton fanatic truly epitomises the values of an active lifestyle and has been doing so well since her transplantation that she competed at the World Games in Canada in 2005, and in regular Transplant Games in the UK. Sandra scooped a gold medal in badminton in the UK Games in April.

“I was thrilled with that and it was a great booster. If I win at the European Games I will be delighted,” added Sandra, who has been training three times a week ahead of the competition.

Sandra’s sister and husband and son will travel to Germany to support Sandra on her way to glory. “The Games are a fantastic experience and everybody makes you feel so good.”

Ireland will host the 6th European Transplant and Dialysis Games in 2010.

Log onto www.transplantteamireland.com to follow the team's progress. For Organ Donor Cards freetext the word DONOR to 50050 or visit the Irish Kidney Association website www.ika.ie.