Earlier this month we shared the story of Erin, who was off to Australia to take part in the World Transplant Games (April 16 – 21).
Erin is not the only one of our young people to have made the trip down under to compete in the Games. Millie who is 22, has just returned.
Millie
“This was my third World Games, having competed as a junior in Malaga, Spain, in 2017 and Newcastle, England, 2019. The Transplant Games is a great event for celebrating and promoting organ donation, and building friendships with the transplant community across the world.
“It was another great experience in Perth, with the games hosted in some marvellous sporting venues across the city. I started on the Sunday with the 5k road race in the beautiful King’s Park. I finished seventh in the category, but was pleased to get round the hilly course. Monday was volleyball, which had some close games, with GB edging out Australia in the semi final, to take on Italy in the final. We fought well, but Italy took the gold and GB the silver. It was the best we’d done for almost 20 years.
“Tuesday and Wednesday were spent supporting and training, and then it was back to competition at the table tennis on Thursday, coming away with a silver after a close win against fellow Brit, Jade Carr, who took bronze. I finished the day anchoring the 4×100 GB ‘B’ team to a bronze medal at the nearby track.
“Friday saw the final track and field events, and I squeezed a silver in the Long Jump with my last jump, and got a bronze in the 200m final. In the evening it was the closing ceremony when the celebration of the Gift of Life took place. It was a great ending to a fantastic week for all 1500 transplantees and supporters who took part.”
Fifteen year old Ava also made the trip and, like Millie, found it an amazing event:
“The atmosphere and camaraderie are something else,” says her mum, Caroline. “To be a part of the whole games, from the opening ceremony, cultural night, where she met up with a previous fellow competitor from Canada, to the closing ceremony was just amazing.
Ava
“Winning five golds and two silvers was brilliant and a true reflection of all the hard work that she puts in at training. We now can’t wait for the British games in Coventry.”
We can’t wait either Caroline! Well done to everyone who took part in the World Games and we’re looking forward to seeing many of our families at the British Transplant Games in Coventry this summer. More details here British Transplant Games 2023 – Childrens Liver Disease Foundation (childliverdisease.org)
Well done to all who participated and especially our granddaughter Millie and of course to you too, Ava. What an experience for you both.