An inspiring Galway grandmother who was recently widowed and who received a kidney transplant 22 years ago could be forgiven for putting up her feet and taking it easy, but that’s not the ethos of driven Teresa Smyth from Dunmore.
Instead, the energetic woman will be heading to Australia to represent Ireland in several sports at the Wold Transplant Games which take place in Perth next month.
Teresa, who is in her sixties wil be representing her country in darts, pentaque doubles and table-tennis and is hoping that she can do the nation proud when she dons the green white and gold kit, which the team received this week at an event in Dublin.
Teresa whose husband Paddy passed away in 2019 is a mother of five, and grandmother of five (soon to be six ) grandchildren. Having received a kidney transplant in 2001, this will be Teresa’s first time to represent Ireland at the World Transplant Games.
She told the Advertiser this week that she is looking forward to meeting new people, enjoying the competition and experiencing the travel.
When asked there anything you are looking forward to about this year’s venue (Perth ) in particular, she said that she is excited about meeting her new new grandchild out there and seeing all the different sports venues in Perth.”
She added that she is only able to take part in this and have such a full life because of the generosity of her donor.
“I am doing this in honour of my donor and their family who have given me a wonderful 22 years of good health,” she said.
Teresa will participate as part of the 14 strong Transplant Team Ireland, (including bone marrow, liver and kidney transplant recipients ) at the World Transplant Games in Perth.
She and other members of Transplant Team Ireland attended a team gathering in Dublin on Monday to receive their team kit and for an inspirational talk by former Olympian triathlete Gavin Noble.
The trip to Perth follows a four-year hiatus for the biennial World Transplant Games, as the previous event planned for 2021 had to be cancelled due to the global COVID-19 pandemic.
“The Irish squad gathered at the ALSAA Sports Complex, Dublin airport this week and were joined by family, friends and other members of the Transplant Team Ireland programme, to receive their official team kit.
Embracing life
The guest speaker at the event organised by the Irish Kidney Association was former Olympian triathlete Gavin Noble, the Olympic Federation of Ireland’s Chef de Mission for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and 2023 European Games.
Ranging in age from 36 right up to 75, the current Transplant Team Ireland panel of 10 inspirational men and four women travelling to Perth have all received organ transplants including two liver, two bone marrow, and 10 kidney. They will be among over 1,200 participants from over 50 countries, all embracing their gift of life and honoring their donors in this celebration of life through sport.
In his talk to Transplant Team Ireland, Gavin Noble shared some of the wisdom he gained from the lead up to, and participation in, the 2012 Olympic Games in London and how he is now invested into helping other athletes be the best that they can be.
“Each and every one of you on the Transplant Team is an inspiration as you are living your best life, honouring your donors and representing your country in sport. Sport brings people together as does organ donation,” he said.
The Irish Kidney Association is responsible for managing and supporting Transplant Team Ireland’s involvement at the Games and its National Advocacy and Projects Manager Colin White is the Team Manager.
Speaking at the team gathering, he said, “It’s great to see the return of the World Transplant Games bringing the transplant community back together after the global pandemic. The World Transplant Games is about more than just sport, it is about camaraderie and the shared message that organ donation works. It’s about honouring organ donors and their families and being a role model for others who are newly diagnosed with organ failure.
“With a mix of seasoned campaigners and new team members, this year’s squad will carry on the team’s long legacy of supporting each other and every performance by every competitor. Our two competitors over the age of 70 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”.
Competition at the Games is by age category and Transplant Team Ireland will have representatives in the following eleven sports: Cycling; Darts; Golf; Lawn Bowls; Petanque; Road Race; Swimming; Table Tennis; Ten Pin Bowling; Tennis; and Triathlon.
Each of the athletes is funding their participation in the Games (Games registration, flights, accommodation, and meals ) through fundraising in the name of the Irish Kidney Association/Transplant Team Ireland, and using their own funds.
The team is proud to wear the Team Kit which, this year, has been sponsored by the Health Services Staffs Credit Union (HSSCU ).
Its Chief Executive Sean Hosford, said HSSCU is very proud to be involved with the Transplant Team Ireland and provide support.
“It’s an organisation that is doing brilliant work. Supporting our members and the wider community is an integral part of how HSSCU operates. On a personal level and as a family that have benefited from organ donation, I’m very aware of the life changing benefits afforded transplant recipients by such a wonderful gesture.
“Everyone involved wishes each of the athletes competing the very best at the games. It’s an honour to be involved in a small way with an Irish team competing internationally. We look forward to following the team closely once the games get started”.
To find out more about the World Transplant Games visit website www.worldtransplantgames.org and to find out more about members of Transplant Team Ireland and to follow their progress at the Games, you can follow the team blog; www.transplantteamireland.ie Individuals who wish to support organ donation are encouraged to Share their Wishes with their family and keep the reminders of their decision available by carrying the organ donor card, permitting Code 115 to be included on their driver’s licence or having the ‘digital organ donor card’ App on their smartphone. Organ Donor Cards can be requested by visiting the IKA website www.ika.ie/get-a-donor-card or to your phone, phoning the Irish Kidney Association on 01 6205306 or Free text the word DONOR to 50050.
