Team Buffalo seeks new members for Transplant Games of America

Transplant recipients, living donors, donor families & other supporters welcome

Team Buffalo is seeking transplant recipients, living organ donors and donor families to join in preparations for the Transplant Games of America. The team includes members of the organ, cornea, tissue, and bone marrow transplant community from around Western New York.

Team Buffalo celebrates the success of transplantation, honors the legacy of donors and provides hope to those waiting for a transplant. The team promotes donor registration through individual and team efforts. New members are welcome to join team activities in the coming months and consider participation in the 2022 Donate Life Transplant Games.

The 2022 games will take place in San Diego from Friday, July 29, through Wednesday, Aug. 3. Competitions include a 5K run/walk, badminton, ballroom dancing, basketball, bowling, cornhole, cycling, darts, golf, lyrics for life, pickleball, swimming, table tennis, tennis, Texas Hold ‘Em poker, track and field, trivia, a virtual triathlon, volleyball and a Youth Olympiad. To be eligible for athletic challenges, organ, cornea, tissue and bone marrow recipients must be at least nine months post-transplant at the time of the games and be in good health.

The Donate Life Transplant Games also feature a donor tribute ceremony, transplant workshops and seminars, and opportunities to celebrate donation and transplantation.

Anyone interested in joining Team Buffalo can email [email protected] or leave a voicemail at 716-529-4390. Additional information is online at www.kfwny.org/TeamBuffalo.

Team Buffalo is a program of the Kidney Foundation of Western New York, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to increasing community awareness of kidney disease and other related diseases while educating and improving the lives of those it serves.

Every two years, the Transplant Games of America gathers together thousands of transplant recipients, living donors, donor families, individuals on the waiting list, caregivers, transplant professionals, supporters and spectators for the world’s largest celebration of life. During this truly unique and inspiring week, 42 state teams and several international teams made up of transplant recipients and living donors, compete in 20 athletic and recreational competitions. In addition to these medaling events, there are over 60 special events held throughout the Games meant for all attendees to enjoy.

These events not only serve as an opportunity for donor families, recipients, living donors and professionals to engage with one another and share stories, but it celebrates donors who gave the selfless gift of life. At the Transplant Games, recipients are given the chance to show the world that having a transplant is a second chance at a full, productive, and inspiring life as well as display to their donor families what their gift means to them.

More information is online at https://transplantgamesofamerica.org/.