Transplant Games

Team Georgia members are transplant recipients, donor families and living donors who represent the State of Georgia at the U.S. Transplant Games. Sponsored by the National Kidney Foundation, the U.S. Transplant Games is a four-day Olympic-style competition held every other year for athletes who have received a solid organ or bone marrow transplant.  It is the largest gathering of transplant recipients in the world!  But aside from their participation in the games, members and supporters also work year-round to increase organ donor awareness.  Sharing their experiences with others helps promote organ donation and transplantation.

TEAM GEORGIA—WHO CAN BE INVOLVED
Team Georgia is made up of a group of individuals who have received a life-saving organ transplant (kidney, heart, liver, lung, pancreas or allogenic bone marrow). Members of Team Georgia are of all ages, all walks of life and live in various areas of Georgia. The individual’s transplant must be functioning for at least 6 months by the date of the U.S. Transplant Games in order for them to be eligible to compete. The group supports each other in their local communities throughout Georgia--and the friendships last a lifetime!

The 2006 U.S Transplant Games were held June 16 – 21 in Louisville, Kentucky. Thirty-two transplant recipients/athletes, two donor families and four living donors participated in 2006 as a part of Team Georgia.

The 2008 U.S. Transplant Games will be held July 11th – 16th in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

WHAT ARE THE U.S. TRANSPLANT GAMES?
The U.S. Transplant Games is a four-day, Olympic style competition held every other year for athletes who have received a solid organ or bone marrow transplant. Athletes are invited to compete in 12 sports or 41 events to achieve their dream of receiveing a gold, silver or bronze medal in their age category! There is plenty to do with something for everyone including a special kid’s time for children of all ages, a 5K road race open to all, a living donor recognition event, and specially designed educational programs for donor families & health care professionals. In addition, donor families and transplant recipients from across the nation are invited to attend the Donor Recognition Ceremony, which pays tribute to America’s heroes—living donors and those individuals who donated organs and/or tissue after death.

Team Georgia Gift of Life Bear