FLORA WOMEN’S MINI MARATHON

3^RD JUNE 2013

Thank you very much to all who participated in the Flora Womens Mini Marathon on behalf of the IHLTA.   We are still getting the sponsorship forms back so thank you to all who supported us.  

.......A Celebration.

On the 21st of November 2010 we celebrated 25 yrs of Heart Transplantation in Ireland by holding an event in the Royal College of Surgeons on St Stephens Green, Dublin. Many recipients of heart transplants attended along with members of the transplant teams of the Mater Hospital.

Tributes were paid to the late Maurice Neligan who with Prof Freddie Wood performed the first heart transplant in Ireland in September 1985. Since then a total of 280 transplants have taken place with the longest living recpient still enjoying an active and healthy life 24 yrs after transplantation.

A presentation was made to Prof Freddie Wood to mark his retirement as Head of the National Heart and Lung Transplant programme at the Mater Misercordiae University Hospital.

The event highlighted the wonderful success of the transplant programme at the Mater Hospital and the deep and eternal gratitude we all feel for Donors and their families.

For over 15 years, members of the Irish Heart and Lung Transplant Association have participated in the European Heart and Lung Transplant Games. These games are arranged and hosted under the aegis of the European Heart & Lung Transplant Federation and are held in different countries each time.

Since 1994, the games have been held bi-annually, and have been hosted by Finland, Switzerland, Germany, Norway, Dublin (2004), Naples (2006), Vichy (2008) and Vaxjo (2010).

Teams from 18 European Countries compete in a range of sports, including track and field athletics, cycling, golf, swimming, tennis, badminton, table tennis and volleyball. There are seven age groups, that go all the way up to 65+, so these games really are for everyone.

Competition is intense but friendly, though medals are not easy to come by! However, every competitor is a winner in the truest sense, competing because THEY CAN.

What better respect to show your donor than to get fit, stay fit, and truly enjoy your second chance?

If Europe's not big enough, then there is always the World Games, which were held in Japan (2001), France (2003), Canada in 2005, Thailand (2007), Australia (2009) and Sweden (2011). Here the competition is even fiercer but more importantly you get an idea of just how big the world transplant family really is!

You can view photos of the EHLTF games in Vichy France and Vaxjo Sweden on our gallery page.

We were pleased to invite contestants and companions to participate in the 13th European Heart & Lung Transplant Games which were held in Växjö, Sweden in June/July 2010.

The 2010 EHLT Games were hosted by the National Heart and Lung Transplant Association VIKING. "Växjö is a relatively small city, centrally situated in the south part of the country in the region of Småland". For more information go to the Municipality of Växjö web site.

The Irish team of 16 transplant patients picked up a total of 16 medals, including six gold, seven silver and three bronze in a competition that was attended by teams from 23 European countries. To read the full story follow this link to the Irishtimes.com

Congratulations to all who took part.