Fact Sheets
FACTS-AT-A-GLANCE
- The National Kidney Foundation 2006 U.S. Transplant Games is an Olympic-style event for recipients of life-saving transplants, including kidney, heart, liver, lung, pancreas and bone marrow
- The Games will be held June 16-21 in Louisville, Kentucky.
- The National Kidney Foundation 2006 U.S. Transplant Games will mark the world's largest-ever gathering of transplant recipients, with 1,253 athletes representing 50 state teams and three foreign countries.
- More than 797 male athletes and 467 female athletes are competing at the Games. Of the more than 1,200 athletes, 178 are under the age of 17 and 45 are over 70 years old.
- Primary sponsor is Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation.
- The National Kidney Foundation 2006 U.S. Transplant Games aim to call attention to the desperate need for more organ donors in this country while showcasing the success of transplantation. The Games are also a tribute to the 4,000 donor families who make the decision to give the gift of life each year.
- More than 91,000 people are currently awaiting life saving transplants in this country.
- Eighteen people die each day while waiting.
- Signing up to become an organ donor is easy. Just call the National Kidney Foundation at (800) 622-9010 or log on to www.kidney.org for free organ donor cards or more information
CONTACT: Ellie Schlam / Eric Davis
ON-SITE PRESS ROOM: (502) 815-6701 or (502) 815-6702
MOBILE : (516) 286-4035 / (612)202-9407
EMAIL: ellies@kidney.org / eric@habermaninc.com
