A team of some of the bravest youngsters from Yorkshire are preparing to compete for the honour of Leeds Children’s Hospital at the British Transplant Games, which open in Newcastle-Gateshead this Thursday (30 July).
Among them is three-year-old Mia Mason, from Harrogate, who was born with congenital nephrotic syndrome. She had a kidney transplant in Leeds in November 2014 and is now full of energy and planning to compete in three events.
Mia’s family and friends have so far raised a magnificent £25,000 to support the transplant and dialysis wards at Leeds Children’s Hospital, some of which will go towards Little Livers, the hospital charity that supports the children’s transplant team.
The Leeds children’s team will be one of the biggest at the games and is hoping to win lots of medals at the three day annual event.
Celia McKenzie, Matron at Leeds Children’s Hospital, said:
The Games are always a very special event for our transplant youngsters and their families – there is a fantastic team spirit and everyone has great fun.
It is great for them meet up with others who have had transplants here in Leeds and right across the country and celebrate the new lease of life an organ transplant gives.
We are hoping the team does Leeds proud and brings home a good haul of medals, and at the same time we all think about the organs donors and their families who have helped make this possible.
As well as its children’s team, a separate team of adult organ transplant patients from Leeds Teaching Hospitals will also be competing at the Games.
