LIMERICK native Yvonne Ryan is set to play a key role at this year’s World Transplant Games.
Yvonne, who hails from Ballyneety will be travelling to Durban in South Africa with the 26 strong team of transplant recipients acting as their Team Doctor.
The Irish team of 24 athletes have all received organ transplants including kidney, pancreas, liver, and heart. The Irish team, ranging in age from 12 to 68, will participate in various sporting disciplines at the 19th World Transplant Games which will take place from July 28–August 4. Two of the younger members of the team have just completed their Junior and Leaving Certificate exams.
Also involved with Transplant Team Ireland is football legend Niall Quinn who gave a motivational talk to a group of brave transplant athletes this Sunday.
National Team Manager, Colin White said that “the athletes participation in the Games offered a great opportunity to showcase the success of organ donation and transplantation. Their achievements offer inspiration to others experiencing organ failure and an impetus to the general public to embrace organ donation”.
Over 1000 athletes from 50 countries will participate in the World Games. The games include 50 events including track and field, road races, cycling, swimming, golf, tennis, table-tennis, badminton, squash, lawn bowls, volleyball, petanque and tenpin bowling.
