Guy’s and St Thomas’ patients triumph at Transplant Games

Over 240 organ transplant patients, organ donors and their families from Guy’s and St Thomas’ returned from the British Transplant Games victorious with a total of 97 medals.

The three teams from the Trust which included heart, lung and kidney transplant recipients was one of the biggest at the annual event in Nottingham.

Topping the podium were 30 Evelina London kidney transplant patients, supported by Evelina London Children’s Charity. The group are nicknamed the Evelina VIPs (Very Important Penguins, referring to the hospital’s urology and kidney department, Penguin Ward). Across the weekend, the team won 12 gold, 10 silver and 21 bronze medals and thanks to their high medal count were named winners of the kidney category at the event.

The group of 3 to 17-year olds, all of whom have received a kidney transplant, competed in multiple events across track and field, archery, cycling, swimming and racquet sports.

The Evelina London kidney transplant service was this country’s first established children’s kidney programme, pioneering children’s transplantation in 1968. There are currently 100 children under the continued care of Evelina London’s Kidney Transplant team.  

Transplant team paediatric advanced nurse practitioner and Evelina VIPs team manager, Grainne Walsh, said:

The British Transplant Games are the highlight of the year for our transplant patients, as well as their families and Evelina London staff.

 

It’s an opportunity to come together to celebrate life and raise awareness of organ donation, whilst also encouraging fitness in our young patients.

Evelina London Children’s Charity helps support the compassionate, trailblazing care of Evelina London, and fuel incredible moments, every day. This includes supporting Evelina VIP families to attend the Games, no matter their circumstances. At the games, patients have the opportunity to train and compete with children who have been through similar experiences, while parents and siblings benefit from the support network around them.

The two adult teams representing the Trust also returned home decorated in accolades. Guy’s Transplant team, made up of kidney transplant recipients, donors, and dialysis patients, took home 38 medals and had their first ever swim team compete. The Harefield Hamsters, made up of heart and lung transplant patients, took home 16 medals and had 8 first time competitors.

Each year at the British Transplant Games, transplant recipients, donor families, competitors, family members and friends take to the streets of the host city to take part in the emotionally-charged 5K Donor Run, which raises awareness of the benefits of transplantation and pays tribute to organ donors.

Visit NHS Blood and Transplant’s website to learn more about organ donation.