by Alan McGuinness

amcguiness@thekmgroup.co.uk

A national athletics event is being unveiled today.

The British Transplant Games are coming to Medway next year and
preparations are gathering pace.

The Games, which are held in a different location each year,
celebrate the life-saving benefits of an organ
transplant.

The Games’ official launch event is at Rochester
Cathedral.

From August 23-26, hundreds of athletes from across the UK will
converge on the Towns to compete in events such as swimming,
running and volleyball. All of them have undergone a
transplant.

But some are not so lucky – each year many people die while
waiting for a transplant.

The aim in Medway next year is to increase the
number of people signed up to the organ donor register.

Lynne Holt, a trustee at Transplant Sport UK, organisers of the
Games, said: “This vital support means that TSUK together with
Westfield Health can really make a difference in Medway and the UK,
in promoting not only the benefits of transplantation through this
sporting event, but also in raising awareness of the desperate need
for more people to sign on to the NHS Organ Donor Register.”

Health insurance company Westfield Health has been named as the
lead sponsor for the Games, having been involved with the
competition for the past five years.

• For more information, visit www.transplantsport.org.uk.