Human Movement Science, Biokinetics and Sport Management students helped with the road race and cycle race on the Friday and the athletics events that took place at the South Campus Stadium on the Saturday. It was a cold wet two days but the athletes and volunteers remained cheerful.
The event sets the stage to demonstrate the improved quality of life following transplantation and through that, promote awareness for organ donation and transplantation. This is also an opportunity to show their gratitude towards living donors and families of deceased donors.
Athletes aged from five to 80 years old from all over the country came to take part in the games, competing across 13 different disciplines as part of a “celebration of new life” having received organ and bone marrow transplants.
‘The National Transplant Games are always the highlight on the transplant calendar,’ South African Transplant Sports Association (SATSA) chairman Stan Henkeman explained. ‘It’s the point in every transplant athlete’s year where they strive to be at their best, ensuring they gradually improve their own performances, while keeping one eye on their goals to qualify for England.
The University co-hosted the three-day event, along with the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, the Eastern Cape Sports Confederation and the Provincial Department of Sports, Recreation, Arts and Culture and the Eastern Cape Region of the South African Transplant Sports Association (SATSA).
In the photo from left to right: Lu-Shay Vena, Dr Maryna Baard, Susan Burri (Transplant athlete), Dezi Rosenblatt, Gail Halforty and Bongiwe Budaza.