1st November 2004
Great Results for Addenbrooke's
This year, our team delivered its best ever performance in earning a total of 38 medals.
The British Transplant Games-29th July to 1st August 2004. (Ron Alston)
The Addenbrooke's team was delighted when it first heard that the City of Norwich, and the University of East Anglia, would be hosting the 2004 Great Britain Transplant Games. For a start, the journey to Norwich was much shorter than usual. There was one additional ALTA member in the team but not as a result of the publicity The Games had received at our 2003 Celebration. Sadly this had no effect. Nevertheless, the twenty-one competitors made up the largest team Addenbrooke's had ever sent. They were accompanied by their Team Manager, Nina Herbert, and sixteen enthusiastic supporters. The six ALTA members in the team were Diane Alexander, Madge Alston, Colin Aspland, Russell Hadley, Tony Scott and Becky Symonds.
The larger Addenbrooke's team enjoyed greater success than usual. They ended up with 38 medals - 10 gold medals, 15 silver and 13 bronze. Our six ALTA members made a significant contribution winning 13 of the 38. Most impressively, six were gold medals. The ALTA members of the Addenbrooke's team competed in the following events:- Badminton: Shot Put: Throwing the Cricket Ball: Table Tennis: Bowls: Snooker: Volley Ball: The 100 and 200 metres Sprints: Long Jump: 1500 metres and 5 kilometres races: and 50metres Freestyle Swimming. This is just a sample of the British Transplant Games events available to competitors, who are permitted to participate in a maximum of five. There is a full swimming and athletics programme but the choice ranges widely and includes activities as diverse as, for example, Golf, Snooker, Darts and Fishing. Anyone who receives an organ transplant receives also an entitlement to compete in the British Transplant Games. It is an opportunity to meet and make new friends among people who have encountered and overcome similar problems and worries. It is an opportunity to move among and mix with people who have shared unique experiences. It is an opportunity to have fun. It is an opportunity to win medals.
The Great Britain Transplant Games arc taken very seriously by the competitors and the events produce some very fine performances. Nevertheless competitors of all standards are encouraged. To an extent, the Games cope with the differing standards by grouping competitors into age bands; and through the understanding that it is the taking part, not the winning, which is important. To see and hear the crowd urging on the last swimmer or runners in his or her determined attempt to finish, can be a very emotional and rewarding experience. The shared experiences and the opportunities to discuss them with other transplant recipients can be very therapeutic and the knowledge that you are a member of a very special family, of very special people, is immensely rewarding. Those who have once tried the Games tend to persevere with them and, in so doing, begin to build up a widening circle of transplant friends, with shared experiences and unique understanding. They are important reasons for ensuring that the Games continue and are truly available to all.
Perseverance at The Games has been shown to pay off. Two of ALTA's regular competitors won medals this year for the first time.
Finally well done and congratulations to all the Addenbrooke's competitors who took part in the 2004 Great Britain Transplant Games.