Cork athletes take part in transplant games this weekend in Sheffield

Athletes from Cork are among hundreds of competitors taking part in for the British Transplant Games taking place this week at Sheffield, England.

Most competitors had organ or bone marrow transplants, with separate categories for people who were living donors.

Val Weblin from Drimoleague lives with cystic fibrosis and has had a successful double lung transplant followed by a kidney transplant. He competes in snooker, bowling, darts and football.

“Prior to my lung transplant I was wheelchair bound for two years and on oxygen all day every day. The day that call came changed my life and I’ve never looked back,” he said.

He met his wife Julie after the transplant and they now have a 10-year old son Thomas.

Over time sports and transplant events became an important part of his recovery and on-going efforts to stay healthy.

“We all come in different shapes, sizes and abilities but have organ donation in common. It’s a wonderful opportunity to take part in Games like this and I only wish I got involved sooner,” 

he said.

Mike Keohane from Rosscarbery is aiming for his 11th consecutive gold medal in the 5km racewalk. He had a liver transplant in 2007 and since then has competed in more than 20 British, European and World Transplant Games events for Ireland.

He was diagnosed with Autoimmune Hepatitis which led to a warning of having about two months to live without a liver transplant.

Tournaments like this have been a key part of his recovery since that transplant.

“Staying active helps me maintain my health and wellbeing, but representing Ireland is also a tremendous honour,” he said.

“It gives us an opportunity to demonstrate the life-changing impact of organ donation and to pay tribute to the donors and families who have made our journeys possible.”

The team of 20 Irish athletes also includes Anna Pokojska who has lived in Killarney for 20 years. She will compete in cycling, walking and pétanque.

A kidney transplant in 2017 was gave her back her life, and she said: “After years of fighting with kidney failure, I was able to regain my strength and take on new challenges such as hiking and cycling.”