Transplant Australia today kicked off promotion of the 17th Games with a breakfast at Parliament House hosted by the Parliamentary Friends of Organ Donation to unveil three Faces of the Games.
The theme and call to action of this year’s games is ‘give the gift of tomorrow, register as a donor today’.
One of the transplant recipients at Parliament House to celebrate the Games, Mick Kennedy, from Crookwell in NSW, knows more than most about the value of tomorrow
Mick received a double lung transplant at Sydney’s St Vincent’s Hospital in July 1994 and has since received more than 11,000 ‘tomorrows’ he thought might never arrive. He is now Australia’s longest surviving double lung recipient with 30 years and counting.
“Despite all the years since my transplant, I still thank my donor daily. And at these Transplant Games, all recipients can demonstrate to the world what we can achieve with a transplant,” Mick said.
The Australian Transplant Games will be staged in Canberra from October 1 to 6.
Over six days, nearly 500 competitors, including transplant recipients, living donors and donor families, and supporters will have the opportunity to represent their state and compete in 19 different sports. Ranging from lawn bowls and pétanque to athletics and cycling, the Games provide both elite and social athletes the chance to compete on a national stage. The Games encourage transplant recipients to improve their health and fitness around their transplanted organ and promotes the benefits of sport at all levels.
This is just the second time they have been held in Canberra. The Australian transplant community will also be joined by transplant athletes from New Zealand, India and Germany. The Games promote the important message that transplantation saves lives – and every Australian can leave a legacy by registering as an organ and tissue donor.
Transplant Australia CEO Chris Thomas, said with almost 1,800 Australians now waiting for a transplant it was crucial we promoted the positive message of the lives saved through the gift of life.
“Every Australian can make a difference by registering as a donor. It takes just one minute but has the potential to give some with end-stage organ failure a gift that allows them to start planning their tomorrow,” Mr Thomas said.
“Transplant Australia is committed to improving the lives of those waiting and those who have received a transplant and is proud to work with Federal and State Governments to achieve our shared vision for Australia in donation and transplantation.”
The Organ & Tissue Authority is the Official Partner of the Australian Transplant Games.
To register as donor, visit www.donatelife.gov.au
How to Get Involved
There’s still plenty of time for the public to celebrate the gift of life with us:
- You can volunteer at the games by visiting: https://australiantransplantgames.com/get-involved/volunteers/
- On Sunday, October 6, the DonateLife Fun Run will be held for the community through Floriade. Visit:
- https://australiantransplantgames.com/get-involved/community/donatelife-5k-fun-run/
- On Wednesday, October 2, a Community Triathlon will be held at Stromlo Forest Park. Visit:
- https://australiantransplantgames.com/community-triathlon/
Meet the Faces of the 2024 Australian Transplant Games!
Ariana Ford, bone marrow recipient
Ariana, 9, of the ACT received a lifesaving bone marrow transplant from her 4-year-old brother in 2021. Now three years later, Ariana loves swimming and gymnastics. Since recovering from her transplant, she has taught herself to do the things she could only dream about while sick – to ride a bike, swim and cartwheel. She will be taking part in the Australian Transplant Games for the very first time this October. She will be competing in athletics, cycling, swimming, and scrabble.
Mick Kennedy, double lung recipient
Mick, 63, of NSW is a double lung transplant recipient. Born with Cystic Fibrosis, he managed his condition for several decades before his lungs began to fail. Fortunately, after a week on the transplant list, Michael received a transplant in 1994. When asked what he can do now, Michael says “anything I want!”
Now, Mick is preparing to celebrate the 30th anniversary of his life saving transplant by representing NSW in Australia’s largest awareness event for organ donation, the Australia Transplant Games. Despite his long history with the Games, 11 Australian and 10 World Games so far, Mick never gets tired of representing NSW and the transplant community. At this year’s Games Mick will be competing in lawn bowls and ten pin bowling.
John Lafferty, heart and kidney recipient
John, 54, of the ACT received a life-saving heart and kidney transplant in January of this year, 2024. John’s family has a history of Polycystic Kidney Disease, and he spent three years on dialysis before receiving his transplants. John is thrilled to be volunteering at the Australian Transplant Games this October and is aiming to participate in future Games in cycling.
