Ciaran Mather, 26 Apr
Kidney recipient Bernadette Cox from Newbridge was welcomed home to
Dublin Airport on Sunday after taking part in the
World Transplant Games in Perth, Australia last week.
Bernadette was part of the 14 strong Transplant Team Ireland left Perth
with an impressive haul of 17 medals including seven Gold, six Silver
and four Bronze medals.
Bernadette embraced her first ever transplant games experience and she
competed in the 60-69 year old age category.
While she didn’t bring home medals, she showed true sportsmanship by
showing up, trying their best, and honouring her donor.
Speaking on her time at the event, she said: "The experience was
fantastic; being with the Irish team and all the other athletes from
around the world was brilliant.
"The camaraderie between everybody was brilliant and of course it
doesn't hurt that our team won so many medals.
Bernadette continued: "I got my transplant during Covid, so I couldn't
do a lot back then and I promised the family when I wrote to
them (anonymously) that I would do something to honour them and my
donor.
"I feel like I have done this now. This is something totally out of my
comfort zone. I may not have won a medal but I have done it, I've lived
up to my promise."
"I'm very happy that I I took part in the Games and I did that in
honour of my donor," she concluded.
The annual Organ Donor Awareness Week campaign will take place from May
20 to 27.
For more information about Bernadette, visit:
https://transplantteamireland.ie/athlete-profiles/bernadette-cox/