Friday 26th of July will see a team of 13 cyclists, all of whom have had life-saving organ transplants, head off to Durban, South Africa to represent Great Britain in World Transplant Games.
The team of 6 women and 7 men between the ages of 17 and 62 will compete in both the time trial and road race on the 30th and 31st July respectively have had either heart, liver, kidney or bone marrow transplants and are only alive and racing because of the Gift of Life.
Team coach and rider Richard Smith (Wrekinsport CC) says’ it’s been a real privilege to work with the team over the past couple of years and to see them progress to become racing cyclists. The team have worked really hard getting stuck into their events on the road and track to build form and fitness for the World Games, balancing anti-rejection drugs with a rigorous training programme’.
The team of 6 women and 7 men between the ages of 17 and 62 will compete in both the time trial and road race on the 30th and 31st July respectively have had either heart, liver, kidney or bone marrow transplants and are only alive and racing because of the Gift of Life.
Team coach and rider Richard Smith (Wrekinsport CC) says’ it’s been a real privilege to work with the team over the past couple of years and to see them progress to become racing cyclists. The team have worked really hard getting stuck into their events on the road and track to build form and fitness for the World Games, balancing anti-rejection drugs with a rigorous training programme’.
‘The team riders are based all over the UK from Darlington to Portsmouth and over to Northern Ireland, entirely self-funded, they have all attended track and circuit training session in the Midlands to hone their race skills – it shows real dedication and a will to perform as well as they can’.
The team contains existing British, European and World Champion Ottilie Quince (Luton CC) who this year has been competing in the national omnium events and is looking to retain her titles in both the time trial and road race. As well as established riders, newcomers Gavin Giles (Beacon CC) and the youngest member of the team, 17 year old Beth Morris, are looking to make an impact on the world stage.
Cycling Plus, one of the country’s leading cycling magazines, is helping to raise awareness of the team and the team received a massive boost when Therakos provided a donation to cover the cost of the cycling team kit produced by Pro Vision who have also been generous in their support. Therakos Inc. develops and manufactures systems focused on immune cell therapies and is committed to developing therapy to treat life-threatening conditions, such as, solid organ transplant rejection and graft versus host disease.
The team contains existing British, European and World Champion Ottilie Quince (Luton CC) who this year has been competing in the national omnium events and is looking to retain her titles in both the time trial and road race. As well as established riders, newcomers Gavin Giles (Beacon CC) and the youngest member of the team, 17 year old Beth Morris, are looking to make an impact on the world stage.
Cycling Plus, one of the country’s leading cycling magazines, is helping to raise awareness of the team and the team received a massive boost when Therakos provided a donation to cover the cost of the cycling team kit produced by Pro Vision who have also been generous in their support. Therakos Inc. develops and manufactures systems focused on immune cell therapies and is committed to developing therapy to treat life-threatening conditions, such as, solid organ transplant rejection and graft versus host disease.
All of the transplant cyclists are self-funded and without this vital support, the team would not have been able to fulfil its primary function of raising awareness of the success of transplantation and encouraging more people to consider joining the organ donor register.
Notes for editors
10,000 people in the UK need a transplant.
1,000 (3 a day) of these die every year whilst waiting due to a lack of donor organs.
Almost 4,000 organ transplants are carried out in the UK each year.
Over 90% of people support the organ donor register but only 30% have joined it.
19th World Transplant Games http://www.wtg2013.com/
World Transplant Games Federation http://www.wtgf.org/default.asp
Therakos http://www.therakos.co.uk/
Pro Vision http://www.provisionclothing.com/
Follow us on Twitter at GBTxCyclists or Facebook at GB Transplant Cyclists or call or email team captain Rich Smith on 07799 767930 or richard.smith@mamilcycling.co.uk for further information.
Notes for editors
10,000 people in the UK need a transplant.
1,000 (3 a day) of these die every year whilst waiting due to a lack of donor organs.
Almost 4,000 organ transplants are carried out in the UK each year.
Over 90% of people support the organ donor register but only 30% have joined it.
19th World Transplant Games http://www.wtg2013.com/
World Transplant Games Federation http://www.wtgf.org/default.asp
Therakos http://www.therakos.co.uk/
Pro Vision http://www.provisionclothing.com/
Follow us on Twitter at GBTxCyclists or Facebook at GB Transplant Cyclists or call or email team captain Rich Smith on 07799 767930 or richard.smith@mamilcycling.co.uk for further information.
RSS Feed