Successful British Transplant Games for the Evelina VIPs

The Evelina VIPs at the British Transplant Games.

Evelina London’s team, the Evelina VIPs, celebrated another successful trip to the British Transplant Games in Liverpool. This annual event demonstrates the benefits of transplantation, encourages patients to get fit, and increases public awareness of the need for more people to join the NHS Organ Donor Register.

Evelina London surgeons carry out around 1 in 5 of the UK‘s kidney transplants in children. Each year youngsters who have had a transplant and their families take part in the Games to celebrate their abilities and bravery.

This year’s British Transplant Games in numbers

• 2^nd – Evelina London took its 2^nd largest team since patients started competing in the Games. There were 33 competitors, ranging in age from 4 – 17 years old. Together with their families and our volunteers there were 133 people from Evelina London in total at the Games.

• 56 – the total number of medals won by the team (21 Gold, 19 Silver, 16 Bronze).

• 1^st – the team brought home the Best Kidney Kids Trophy, a national award for the team with the most medals.

• 105 – took part in the Organ Donor Run during the Games. Runners wore bright colours and raised nearly £7,000 in sponsorship toward next year’s Games.

• 16 – parents who have donated their kidneys to their children took part in the Games.

Special thanks from the team go to all who supported them in getting to the Games. Without support the Evelina VIPs would be unable to enter such a big team.

Surrey County Cricket Club generously sponsored the event.  Support also came from the British Kidney Patient Association and the Guy’s and St Thomas’ Kidney Patients Association.

Cathy Gill (Senior Health Play Specialist), Pat Hayes (Dispensary Manager) and Grainne Walsh (Advanced Nurse Practitioner in Transplantation) led the team. They were supported by an incredible team of volunteers including Will, Carol, Mandy, Janet, Julie, Helen, Judy, Cliff and Mo.

The team are already looking forward to the Games next year which will take place in Scotland.