James getting ready for World Transplant Games

World Transplant Games 2019 athlete  James Nolan, Kilcullen and Team manager Colin White.

Local butcher and kidney organ transplant activist James Nolan is gearing up for the World Transplant Games 2019, being held in Newcastle Gateshead in the UK next month, writes Brian Byrne.

He will be one of a team of 39, ten of them women, who will be competing for Team Ireland at the Games, which will be run from 17-24 August.

Each team member has undergone organ transplants including one heart, one lung, five liver, one bone marrow and 31 kidney. The largest ever Irish Transplant Team travelling abroad, they will be among 2000 participants from over 60 countries who will take part in the Games.

They met up last Sunday at the ALSAA Sports Complex at Dublin Airport for a motivational talk by international para athlete Mary Fitzgerald.

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.

This year the team has gratefully received support from Swim Ireland, Athletics Ireland and Irish Squash. The on-going coaching support from Swim Ireland has been particularly welcomed. Astellas Pharma Ltd has again provided some sponsorship towards the costs of running the team.

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