Aidan Mccall | Reporter
The BritishTransplant Games were founded in 1978 by Maurice Slapack, a Polish/American Consultant Surgeon. He brought his patients and other transplants together for the first British Transplant Games, held in Portsmouth.
The Transplant Games are about celebrating life and the opportunity to promote organ and tissue donation, aimed at getting people to join the register.
I sat down with Peter Hickey, a Transplant Athlete who has competed in many of the British and World Transplant Games. The St Leonards lad shared with us some of his experience within the games.
Q. What Sports do you do?
Volleyball was my main sport. I played for East Kilbride Volleyball Club in the Scottish National League, which is a high league. So it was good for when I started playing for the Glasgow team (which is the team you play for in the area where you had your transplant) at the British Transplant Games. I had experience at high level. I also do Track & Field; High Jump, 400m and 800m and I once ran a 5k. Also at the 2013 and 2015 world transplant games I was player coach to the British volleyball team.
Q. What inspired you to be a Transplant athlete?
Well mostly because the amount of friends you get to make from all over the world and getting to see people you met a the last games as well. Also taking part in the games and making new friends makes me want to keep fit. As well as that I could work my fitness up which was good
Q. How did you get into the Transplant Games?
Well I wanted to keep my fitness up and I’ve always played sports. I found out after my transplant about the games and this was a brilliant opportunity for me to get involved in.
Q. What has been your best memory as an athlete?
I don’t actually have a favourite but the places I get to travel to for the World/British Transplant Games are always fantastic and you get to meet up with friends you made at the last tournament. Now that I think about it and look back, out of everything I’ve competed in I’d probably now say Australia – because I got to see my family and my dad came with me as well.
Q. What has been your best achievement as an athlete?
I have won lots of medals but the one that stands out the most is probably when I got a Bronze medal at the 2015 games in Mar Del Pluta in Argentina. At the
Q. What has been your favourite tournament?
My favourite tournament was probably the 2012 British Transplant olympics in Medway, South England. At this tournament I won 3 golds and 2 silvers which was really good.
Q. What has been your best advice you’ve been given?
The best advice I was given is to try your best. Enjoy what you’re doing because if I didn’t have the transplant I wouldn’t be doing any of this.
Q. Do you set yourself any goals?
Oh yes, of course! I would tell myself to do the best I can and win medals. Also, before races I would tell myself to try and beat my score from before – but it does get harder the older I get!
Q. Lastly, what do you hope for the future of the Transplant games?
I hope it keeps on getting bigger and stronger and push the benefits to join the register to be an organ and tissue donator. The more young people that join the better.
Donating an organ is a selfless act that could ultimately save a life. Join the register in under 2 minutes with the link below.
https://www.organdonation.nhs.uk/register-to-donate/register-your-details/
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