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Virginia Transplant Games Celebrate Life
 Virginia became the first in the nation to host state-wide transplant games on October 1, 2011. More than 100 organ, tissue and bone marrow transplant recipients and living organ donors representing 14 states gathered in Richmond to compete in the first-ever Donate Life Virginia Transplant Games. The games, a series of Olympics-style athletic events in which transplant recipients and living donors competed, brought together not only recipients, but also the family members of deceased donors.
"It was a powerful experience," says Andrew Mullins, LifeNet Health Director of Hospital Development and Community Education. "To see transplant recipients from all over Virginia coming together with living donors, donor families and health care professionals to celebrate a life."
Brad Ellis, cast member of "Glee," the hit Fox television show performed Randy Newman's "Feels Like Home" during the closing ceremonies along with the Clover Hill High School Choir from Chesterfield, Va.
The event was made possible by the collaborative effort among several Virginia organizations including: transplant centers, organ procurement organizations, eye banks, the Virginia Hospital Association, UNOS and a team of volunteers all working together to create this opportunity to celebrate organ donation. The purpose of the games is to illustrate how donation works by showcasing the strength and passion these recipients and living donors possess.
Donor families flooded the LifeNet Health offices after the event with letters of gratitude for the opportunity to finally close the gap in their grief process. They were grateful for the ability to be surrounded by the men, women and children whose lives had been saved by the generous gift of life.
The games also provided an opportunity for recipients to thank the deceased donors and their families—without whose gifts many of the recipients would not be alive. Many recipients in attendance expressed their appreciation, saying they now felt a sense of community and connectedness with others who understood their journey.
Transplant recipients lined both sides of the streets as donor families passed between them, forming a connection between their lost loved ones and the lives that have been saved.
"These games are a wonderful way for the public to celebrate the precious gifts of organ, tissue and bone marrow transplants," explained Cindy Speas, President of Donate Life Virginia. "The individuals who competed in most of the events are transplant recipients—either they've received a heart or lungs from a deceased organ donor, or they've had mobility restored through ACL repair thanks to a tissue donor. Their lives may even have been saved through a bone marrow transplant. These gifts are something to be celebrated, and the living and deceased donors who made their lives possible were honored."
Virginia First Lady Maureen McDonnell attended the event and spoke during the opening ceremonies. McDonnell's sister received a life-saving double-lung transplant.
Another special guest was Brad Ellis, cast member of "Glee," the hit Fox television show. Ellis, a 13-year heart transplant recipient, performed during the closing ceremonies along with the Clover Hill High School Choir from Chesterfield, Va.
Among the various athletic events that took place as part of the games were basketball, softball throw, discus, shot-put, 5K run, bowling, swimming, and table tennis. The events, with the exception of the 5K, were open only to transplant recipients and living donors. The 5K celebrating the gift of life was open to the public.
For more information, visit www.VirginiaTransplantGames.org and www.Facebook.com/VATransplantGames.
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