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Transplant recipients come to the Games to be inspired and to inspire others…Talking about your unique transplant journey and how transplantation has changed your life arouses hope for patients waiting for a transplant, confidence for donors and donor families that they made the right decision, and joy for those who have watched you go from illness to wellness. Your participation in the Games, along with other members of the transplant community, illustrates the positive impact that organ donation and translpantation can have on the lives of everyone involved in the process. It also generates public awareness about the critical need for more donors.
Each participant in the Games is part of an official NKF U.S. Transplant Games® Team representing his or her state or region, which is organized by a local Team Manager. Games team members are categorized as Primary or Support Members. All lifesaving organ and allogeneic bone marrow transplant recipients (athletes and supporters) are primary team members. Prior to the Games, primary team members may also fund raise to help offset costs associated with their trip. For more information, please contact your local Team Manager. Note: Transplant athletes participate as part of the team where they reside, not where they were transplanted.
“Being at the Games empowered me – I am not alone in this new chapter of my life… Complete strangers cheered when I finished. I finished last, but was blessed to be there to finish. So many aren't as fortunate to receive their much needed life saving organ transplant.”
– Kimberly Harrington, TEAM ILLINOIS, Transplant Athlete
The National Kidney Foundation U.S. Transplant Games® (the “Games”) is a multi–sport age group athletic competition open to all recipients and living donors of life–supporting allografts (heart, intestine, kidney, liver, lung, pancreas) and hemopoetic cell (bone marrow) transplants from other individuals or species which require or have required the use of immunosuppressive drug therapies. Living donors of the aforementioned organs are eligible to compete in selected events in their own division. Recipients must have been transplanted for at least nine months, with stable graft function, be medically fit and have trained at the events in which they have entered. Living donors must be nine months post–donation. Recipients less than nine months post–transplant and living donors less than nine months post–donation will be considered on a case–by–case basis. All competitors must be medically approved by their physician to compete.
Before competing, each athlete must complete a general waiver with his or her registration, stating that the athlete is fit, has trained for the events entered, has knowledge of the rules, the difficulties of the event and the medical requirements of the Games. In addition, a medical certificate must be submitted at least one month but no more than four months before the start of the Games. The medical waiver must be filled out entirely and signed by the athlete’s primary physician. All medical waivers must be reviewed by the Team Manager prior to submission. Medical waivers will be reviewed and, if deemed unsatisfactory, that competitor may be restricted from competition.
Waiver will be available to download on March 30, 2010.
“Attending the Games has always been rewarding, even when I couldn’t compete.”
– Stephanie Wetzel, Transplant Athlete, Team Illinois
If you are a recipient that is not yet eligible or simply chooses not to compete (Transplanted Supporter), you are encouraged to attend! The Games is an exciting opportunity for all transplant recipients to celebrate their gift, honor the generosity of donors and their families, share their experiences, meet other recipients and of course showcase the success of their transplant!
Events for transplant recipients that take place during the Games include:
In Olympic fashion, teams from all across the United States and around the world march in the Opening Ceremony. Registered Transplant Athletes and Transplanted Supporters from each team will march in to the Ceremony as a group, followed by the Living Donors and Donor Families.
The Living Donor Recognition Event is our time to recognize the generosity and spirit of our nation’s living donors. Join us for an afternoon of readings, music, and special tributes.
The Donor Recognition Ceremony is a chance to honor deceased donors and their families. Organ and tissue transplant recipients will share reflections on how transplantation changed their lives. The Ceremony will feature inspiring performances about the gift of life, a video of donors and more.
Patches of Love: The National Donor Family Quilt commemorates deceased organ and tissue donors. The entire Quilt will be displayed at Monona Terrace during the Games, which is one of the few times the Quilt comes together in its entirety. Everyone is invited to the Quilt Pinning to see new quilt squares added to Patches of Love, The National Donor Family Quilt. As each new Quilt patch is “pinned” to the Quilt, donor family members will have an opportunity to share a few words about the meaning of their Quilt patch. The Quilt is an opportunity to honor deceased donors. Participants are encouraged to “come and go” as needed.
The Coffeehouse is an open–mic forum for donor families, living donors, recipients and professionals to share a few words about their experiences. All Games registrants are invited to relax over dessert and coffee, and share personal thoughts, stories, poems, songs or other creative expressions. Participants are encouraged to “come and go” as needed.
Walk, jog or run! Join us at your own pace, in the name of organ & tissue donation at the 5K Race for Organ, Eye & Tissue Donation Awareness, a road race for transplant recipients, family members, friends, transplant professionals, living donors, donor families and the local community. There is a separate registration and fee for Games’ non…athletes and the public who wish to participate in this event.
FORE! Open to all Games registrants, the Donor–Recipient Golf Outing is a friendly game of golf that involves all members from the transplant community. Prizes will be awarded for Best Ball, Longest Drive and more! Lunch included. There is a separate registration and fee for Games’ registrants who wish to participate in this event.
