Member Article

Gentoo supports British Transplant Games

Social enterprise Gentoo Group has pledged to support the 2015 Westfield Health British Transplant Games this summer in the North East.

From July 30 – August 2, over 600 transplant recipients and more than 1,000 spectators will descend on the North East to compete in a variety of sporting and social events that showcase the value of organ donation.

Gentoo Group and its volunteers are supporting the swimming events at the Sunderland Aquatic Centre and are also entering a team into the Donor Run.

The Games are the flagship project of the charity Transplant Sport and have been staged annually since 1978 in 12 host cities across the UK.

Transplant patient, Danny Buckley, took part in the British Transplant Games the second time it was held in NewcastleGateshead and through his relationships with staff at Gentoo, inspired the Group to get involved.

As a teenager Danny was a keen sportsman and regularly played football and rugby in his spare time. At 16 Danny was told by doctors that his kidneys were only working at 14%; he was quickly put on the donor list and began self-administering dialysis four times a day.

13 months later Danny received his first kidney transplant from a donor who had passed away. During his recovery nurses at the hospital where Danny was being treated introduced him to the British Transplant Games. Danny entered the Games on its second visit to NewcatleGateshead and participated in hurdles, relay, swimming and snooker events.

Danny said “I had stopped playing sports during my treatment so the Games played a big part in my recovery. You’re just existing when you’re on dialysis.

“The Games are great because there’s a wide range of sports and you don’t have to be a super athlete – it’s about taking part, enjoying it and meeting people.”

Danny had a second kidney transplant in 2012, donated by his father. He now works full time, has two children and continues to fulfil his love of sport.

Peter Walls, Chief Executive, Gentoo Group said: “Danny’s story is truly inspiring. At Gentoo we encourage every individual to fulfil their Art of Living and for many people the Games are integral to achieving this. We are delighted to be supporting the Games not only for the amazing difference it makes to people’s lives, but also for the opportunity to display our vibrant and diverse region to competitors and spectators.

“As part of our involvement we have a range of activity planned to encourage people to join the NHS Organ Donation Register including entering a team into the Donor Run and encouraging staff, customers and partners to volunteer at the Games. Volunteering is so important to Gentoo and is something we constantly promote through our volunteering programme – it’s a brilliant way to get involved and make a really positive impact.”

North East businessman and Chair of the Local Organising Committee for The Games, Graham Wylie, said: “When we launched the Games back in November we were keen to ensure they had support from across the North East’s business community so I’m delighted to see Gentoo, one of the region’s largest social enterprise organisations, has chosen to back them, sponsoring the swimming events at Sunderland Aquatic Centre.

“We are thrilled to have their support. It really is invaluable in helping us ensure the 2015 British Transplant Games stand-out as the best yet.”

Members of the Gentoo Donor Run team joined Alan Shearer and some inspirational transplant athletes on NewcastleGateshead Quayside on Thursday June 4 to launch the event and encourage others to get involved. The former Newcastle United captain launched the Donor Run, which is coming to NewcastleGateshead as part of the Games on August 1.

Thousands will come together for the 3k or 5k Quayside run to celebrate and raise awareness of organ donation. More than 10,000 people in the UK currently need a transplant but only 32 per cent of us are actually on the organ donor register meaning there simply aren’t enough organs for the amount of lives that need saving.

Gentoo Group’s whole ethos is about believing nothing is impossible and finding new ways to challenge conventions, Gentoo aims to make society a better place to live and to make a real difference to the way people live their life. To find out more about Gentoo, visit gentoogroup.com for more information or follow @gentoogroup on Twitter.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Emily Morris .