A 12 year old girl from Biggar, South Lanarkshire, who received a liver transplant when she was just six months old, is on her way to Perth, Western Australia, to represent Team Great Britain and Northern Ireland in the World Transplant Games.
Erin McIlvaney, who was born with the rare liver disease, biliary atresia, was selected to play badminton in the singles and doubles competition at the World Games, based on her performance at the British Transplant Games in Leeds last summer, and has been training hard every since.
Together with parents, Jamie and Kirstin and younger brother, Owen, eight, she is heading to Singapore and then Melbourne, before arriving in Perth for the start of the Games on April 14th.
“It feels like a really exciting adventure,” says Erin. “I’m really looking forward to meeting others in the British team and competitors from other countries.”
The rest of the family are just as excited: “It is incredible to think how far Erin has come since her transplant,” says mum, Kirstin. “She is going to make the most out of the amazing opportunities transplant sport has brought.”
Since Erin’s diagnosis, the family have raised over £35,000 for Children’s Liver Disease Foundation, the UK charity which supports families affected by childhood liver disease. Chief Executive, Rebecca Cooper, commented: “This is a tremendous achievement. I’m sure there was a time when Erin’s parents would not have thought that this could be possible. Erin is a true inspiration to any child born with liver disease and we cannot wait to hear how she gets on. Go Erin!”
For more information on CLDF visit childliverdisease.org.
