An Athlone native will be part of a 39 strong Ireland team to compete in the World Transplant Games from August 17-23 in Newcastle.
Noel Marsden, who received a kidney transplant in 2017, will be active on numerous sporting fronts in the 30-39 years category during the week of the Transplant Games as he competes in petanque doubles, 100m freestyle swimming, 50m backstroke swimming, 100m breaststroke swimming and badminton doubles.
Noel has previously participated in the European Transplant and Dialysis Sports Championships in Finland 2016 and the British Games in 2017 while, still receiving dialysis treatment. This will be his first time to compete at the World Transplant Games.
Noel enjoys most sports especially swimming, rugby and soccer, and is a big Connacht rugby and Aston Villa fan.
“I am excited to be attending my first games since my transplant, and hoping to do my kidney donor proud. I’m motivated to prove organ donation works by beating my own personal best swimming times and to encourage more people to join Transplant Team Ireland in Dublin next year for the European games," Noel enthused.
The Irish Kidney Association is responsible for Ireland’s involvement in the Games and the National Projects Manager Colin White is the team manager.
Speaking about the Games, he said, “I am excited about the diverse nature of this year's squad who will represent Ireland at the World Transplant Games 2019. We cover a wide range of sports and have a variety of levels of experience too. We have five competitors over the age of 70 who are a fantastic example to us all in that sport can, and should, be a life-long habit. Each competitor is an ambassador in their own right and collectively the team sends out a wonderfully uplifting message about how life can be post-transplant."
Athletes will compete in their respective age categories in the following events, badminton, cycling, darts, golf, petanque, squash, swimming, table tennis, ten pin bowling, tennis, mini-marathon, and track and field.
For more information on World Transplant Games and to follow the Irish athletes as they compete in the World Transplant Games in August, visit the Irish team blog www.transplantteamireland.ie
