For over 15 years, members of the Irish Heart and Lung Transplant Association have participated in the European Heart and Lung Transplant Games. These games are arranged and hosted under the aegis of the European Heart & Lung Transplant Federation and are held in different countries each time.

Since 1994, the games have been held bi-annually, and have been hosted by Finland, Switzerland, Germany, Norway, Dublin (2004), Naples (2006), Vichy (2008) and Vaxjo (2010).

Teams from 18 European Countries compete in a range of sports, including track and field athletics, cycling, golf, swimming, tennis, badminton, table tennis and volleyball. There are seven age groups, that go all the way up to 65+, so these games really are for everyone.

Competition is intense but friendly, though medals are not easy to come by! However, every competitor is a winner in the truest sense, competing because THEY CAN.

What better respect to show your donor than to get fit, stay fit, and truly enjoy your second chance?

If Europe's not big enough, then there is always the World Games, which were held in Japan (2001), France (2003), Canada in 2005, Thailand (2007), Australia (2009) and Sweden (2011). Here the competition is even fiercer but more importantly you get an idea of just how big the world transplant family really is!

You can view photos of the EHLTF games in Vichy France and Vaxjo Sweden on our gallery page.