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FREEMAN HEART & LUNG TRANSPLANT ASSOCIATION REGISTERED CHARITY 700730 |
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Australian Transplant Games Adelaide / Sydney
At the same time as the Australian Transplant Games were being staged, the inaugural tour by the Great Britain Transplant Cricket Club (GBTCC) took place. Yours truly, Graham Marsh went as part of the cricket team and I joined up with Judith Burgess and Bernard Grainger in Adelaide. Representing the Freeman Sports Team we took our place in the GB team as international guests of the Australians. The Games were held in Adelaide, a beautiful city in South Australia and we were made very welcome by the Aussies. We stayed in chalets (seen above) on a beach resort just minutes from the city and the holiday resort of Glenelg (famous for being a palindrome). Judith won 2 silver and 3 bronze medals in badminton and table tennis, Bernard won gold in the shot putt and I won the individual 100m and also a gold and silver in the relays (4x400m & 4x100m).
Bernard and Judith both did the Sydney Harbour Bridge climb. It takes approximately 3-4 hours and once at the top offers magnificent views over Sydney. I think that this achievement ranks higher than winning medals in the Games. It shows what can be achieved after a heart transplant if the mind is willing. I would like to say I would have joined them at the top but was playing cricket at the time. The bit about playing cricket is true, but there is no way I could have done what Judith and Bernard accomplished. I know they received an official certificate and had a photograph taken at the top of the bridge. Take a look. Fantastic achievement by both of them.
-------------------------------------------- The David Hookes Memorial Cricket Tour In memory of the ex Australian Test Match batsman who died in tragic circumstances in January 2004 we were invited to send a transplant cricket team to play in the inaugural series. The newly formed Great Britain Transplant Cricket Club (GBTCC) set off with only 11 players to face the might of Australia who had a different squad for each of the four games we played. We drew the first match but lost the other three. No disgrace in that and the cricket was excellent. The first two games were played at Adelaide Oval #2 which is adjacent to the Test Match ground.
The other two matches were played in Sydney. In two years time the Australians will be sending a team to GB to try and defend the trophy. We could do with some more players to give them a run for their money. If you would like to get involved in transplant cricket, please get in touch with me and I will let you know what our plans are for next year (2005). It is our intention to play some matches throughout next summer and obviously the more players the better.
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graham@fhlta.org.uk with
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