The European Transplant and Dialysis Games are coming to the UK for the first ever time, and we are fundraising to support Transplant Sport UK hosting these games. The games first started in Athens in 2000 and subsequently has been held every second year in 9 different European countries. Unfortunately the 2020 games due to be held in Dublin were cancelled due to COVID. The Championships comprise a week of multi-sport competition amongst solid organ transplant recipients and kidney dialysis patients from over 30 countries across Europe. The event is similar to the Paralympics or Invictus Games with approximately 500 competitors. The event is a major opportunity to promote the huge benefits of organ donation and amazing life-saving impact of organ transplantation.

We as a team are participating in a 6 day fund-raising cycle ride from London to Paris to raise at least £10,000 towards organizing the games due to be held in Oxford in August 2022, and to support young adult transplant recipients and dialysis patients attending. We will also have a special focus on raising money to help support Ukrainian patients attend. The ongoing war in Ukraine has had a tragic impact on so many people in Ukraine, especially than those who have chronic illnesses. Bombing hospitals, blocking supplies of medication and cutting off water supplies has been life threatening for kidney dialysis patients and organ transplant patients dependent on daily medication to survive. Many have left Ukraine and are being supported across multiple European countries including some being hosted in Oxford.

The cycling team (made up those with organ transplants) are raising money to bring a Team of Ukrainian transplant and dialysis patients to the European Transplant and Dialysis Games for the first time ever. This will be a way to demonstrate that there is hope for everyone including the chronically ill in Ukraine that they can overcome the terrible impact of the current invasion, as well as their health issues.

Any support would be gratefully received as it is a particular challenge to organize these Championships in the recovery period from the COVID pandemic.