Transplant Australia Chair Jason Ryan today thanked the hundreds of Australians who have signed up to celebrate the gift of life at the World Transplant Games in Perth in just under three months.
He also thanked the positive spirit of the volunteers, fundraisers and staff who were helping to present a large Australian team in Perth.
The Australian team now numbers more than 300 participants and there is still almost three weeks to go until the close of registration. Transplant Australia hopes to achieve a team of close to 400.
Mr Ryan thanked the Australian Team Management group – volunteers Margaret Hill, Julie Moloney, Margaret Martin and staff member Julie Edwards for their efforts in preparing the team.
The new Transplant Australia WA Executive – Troy Scudds, Glenda Rayment, Jane Bartlett and Tara Lowther – were also working on a large contingent of WA recipients, donor families, living donors, and supporters for the Games. Jason was particularly pleased the Committee was in a position to support the members with funding raised by the members over a number of years.
Special mention must be to the volunteers who have raised funds to support our Aussie team. Altruistic donor Gordon Rutty raised more than $32,000 to support children while other team members, including Fraser Catton and Andrew Veigel, were also busy raising funds to support the team. Funding has also been secured from Sport NSW, while Astellas is subsidising the team uniform and team dinner.
In addition, Jason was pleased that Transplant Australia had appointed a Team Coach for the first time with sports coach Adam Gordon leading four online coaching sessions as well as another Gold Coast Training Camp prior to the Games.
Mr Ryan said Australia and Perth in particular, would put out a warm welcome to the 1,500 people from around the world who have booked their place at this year’s games in Perth. He was particularly pleased about the number of donor families and living donors traveling to celebrate organ and tissue donation in Australia as part of the 24th World Transplant Games.
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