A Lanarkshire heart transplant recipient is ready for action at the British Transplant Games.
A team of heart transplant recipients from across Scotland will proudly represent NHS Golden Jubilee for the first time at the British Transplant Games in Sheffield this week, celebrating the life-changing impact of organ donation and the extraordinary opportunities transplantation creates.
Lorraine Bowman, from Bellshill, is part of the team which raises awareness about organ donation, as well as encouraging transplant recipients to lead active lives, build confidence and support one another.
Competitors will take part in events including golf, badminton, archery, table tennis, volleyball, ten-pin bowling, crown green bowls, athletics, pétanque and the Donor Run, one of the most poignant and celebrated events of the Games.
The team’s participation reflects not only their own determination and resilience, but also the lasting impact of organ donation, which has enabled them to return to active, fulfilling lives.
Carolynne O’Connor, Chief Executive of NHS Golden Jubilee, said: “We are immensely proud to support and celebrate the very first Golden Jubilee Scotland Heart Transplant Sports Team as they prepare to represent us at the British Transplant Games.
“Seeing transplant recipients return to sport, travel, spend time with their families and pursue their ambitions is one of the most powerful reminders of why organ donation matters.
“Every member of this team is a testament to the life-changing impact of transplantation and the dedication of the multidisciplinary teams who support patients throughout their journey.
“Most importantly, none of this would be possible without the extraordinary generosity of organ donors and their families. We remain deeply grateful for the selfless decisions they make, often during the most difficult circumstances, to give others the gift of life.
“We hope the team’s participation encourages people to have conversations about organ donation with their families. Those discussions can ultimately save lives and create opportunities for people to live life to the fullest.”
Team Captain and heart transplant recipient, Alison Gray, added: “To have 11 competitors and seven supporters representing NHS Golden Jubilee and Scotland in our very first year is beyond anything I could have imagined.
“We are incredibly proud to be taking part in the Games and showing what is possible after transplantation.
“For me, one of the highlights will be the Donor Run. It brings together donor families, living donors and transplant recipients in a truly special way.
“We will run and walk in honour of the gift we have received, remember those donors who made transplantation possible, and thank their families for their incredible generosity.
“Every person on our team has their own story, but we all share one thing in common – we have been given a second chance at life. The British Transplant Games are about celebrating that gift, raising awareness of organ donation and inspiring others to have those important conversations with their loved ones.”
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