Graeme had a liver transplant in April 2013 and has been selected for Team GB for the 3rd time in the 2023 World Transplant Games – this time in Perth Australia.
He has previously competed in the World Games in Malaga in 2017 and Newcastle in 2019. He has come away with a total of 19 medals competing in the British and World Transplant games since 2014.
The World Transplant Games works in partnership with the charity Transplant Sport and are supported by the International Olympic Committee.
This event represents the largest organ donor awareness event in the world, featuring a week of 17 sporting events.
Team Great Britain and NI (Team GB) will join over 1,000 other transplant athletes and live donors from 60 countries across the globe.
“I am honoured to be representing Team GB in squash, tennis and petanque (Boules) in the same month as the 10thanniversary of my liver transplant.
“I will be training at Lady Bay Tennis club and at Rushcliffe Squash Club at the Rushcliffe County Council sports facility in West Bridgford.
“I have also volunteered to captain of Squash Team which comprises 11 competitors from the ages of 16-69.”
“I owe my life to the family whose loved one passed away and donated their liver to me. I would not be alive today if it weren’t for them,” he added.
“Selection on to the team is just the beginning, it is an enormous commitment of both time and money.
“The next 5 months will be busy for me keeping fit, regularly training in my sports, attending regular team training meets, doing publicity, and trying to raise the £3,000 to get there through my Just Giving site.
“However, the opportunity to compete and celebrate life and pay tribute to my donor family is my goal.”
Please go to his Just Giving page (below) to help him raise funds to cover his expenses associated with attending the World Transplant Games in Perth, Australia. Any surplus funds will go towards the Transplant Sport UK Management Team (including physios and coaches) who give up their time to support the team.
https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/graeme-gunn2
Team GB has 150 transplant athletes, including ten juniors, six donor and live donors and 50+ supporters.
40% of the team are new members and all the transplant athletes have been selected following their success at this year’s Westfield Health British Transplant Games which took place in Leeds and the European Transplant Games, hosted in Oxford. Athletes have all survived a heart, lung, kidney, pancreas, liver, small bowel, or bone marrow transplant, and come from all parts of the UK.
Lynne Holt, Team Manager, said: “We are delighted to be demonstrating the benefits of transplantation. We aim to exceed the gold medals won at the 2019 World Transplant Games in Newcastle and to win the trophy for the best team. These Games certainly deserve the same recognition as the Olympic and Para Olympic Games.
“It is always a little daunting competing at the World Transplant Games, but with the help of those who have been before, together with the coaches, captains, management, medical and physio teams, the experience will be a rewarding one for all involved. All these incredible people are Transplant Sport volunteers and give their time freely – without them the Games wouldn’t be possible.
“Selection on to our team is just the beginning, it is an enormous commitment of both time and money. The next 5 months will be busy for the athletes, keeping fit, regularly training in their sport, attending regular team training meets, doing publicity, and trying to raise the £3,000 per person to get there through Just Giving or similar. However, the opportunity to compete, celebrate life and in doing so, paying tribute to their donors, is the goal.”
Lynne added, “Not only are these athletes’ ambassadors for organ donation, but they are also representing the charity, Transplant Sport, with the aim to raise awareness of organ donation here in the UK and globally. Part of this also includes encouraging conversations with friends and family to discuss their wishes regarding organ donation and signing up for the Organ Donor Register.”
Go to Graeme’s Just Giving site help him raise funds to cover his expenses associated with attending the World Transplant Games in Perth, Australia. Any surplus funds will go towards the Transplant Sport UK IK Management Team (including physios and coaches) who give up their time to support the team.
Dr Paul Harden, Chair of Trustees for Transplant Sport, said: “The Games are an important reminder of the importance of physical health and wellbeing and how organ donation gives the gift of life and opportunities to so many”.
