As the UK celebrates Organ Donation Week (7-13th September) and the recent changes in organ donation law, Westfield Health announces renewed support for the British Transplant Games, an annual event that celebrates the gift of life that is organ donation.
Health and wellbeing provider Westfield Health has recently celebrated two big anniversaries, 100 years since its inception and 12 years of backing the Westfield Health British Transplant Games. As the Games moves to Leeds for 2021, Westfield Health has committed to support the event for the next three years.
The Westfield Health British Transplant Games is the flagship event organised on behalf of the charity Transplant Sport. The 2021 games will take place in venues across Leeds from the 5-8 August and see transplant athletes from the age of three to over 80 compete in their thousands.
There are currently over 4,000 people waiting for a transplant in the UK. Aiming to raise awareness of organ donation and promote the importance of remaining healthy and active post-transplant, the 2021 Games is set to be all the more poignant following a postponed 2020 event due to Covid-19, which has also been responsible for a significant fall in organ donation and transplantation.
Following the recent change in England’s organ donation law to recognise an ‘opt-out’ system, it is now more important than ever to encourage people to have the chat about their wishes with family and loved ones.
Speaking of his continued support of the Games, Westfield Health chairman Graham Moore, said: “The Games are such a wonderful event that celebrates the transplant community and showcases the inspirational stories of those who have received and donated organs. It’s a great opportunity for the competitors, their families and supporters to come together to celebrate the ’gift of life’ and raise awareness of the impact organ donation has."
“Not everyone can be a hero in life, but we can all be heroes in death by signing up to the Organ Donor Register and letting your loved ones know your wishes."
CEO of Westfield Health, David Capper, said: “We’re so excited for the Games to be back on in 2021 and beyond. All the challenges we’ve faced this year as a global community just go to show how truly precious our lives and our health are. The Games are a timely and important reminder of this, and I can’t wait to see all the participants and their families back next year”.
Graham was made a Patron of Transplant Sport at the Transplant Games’ 2019 closing ceremony in Newport, recognising his continued commitment and support.
Paul Harden, Chair of Transplant Sport, said: “We are so grateful to Westfield Health, without them it’s unlikely that the British Transplant Games could continue. It’s plain to see the passion that they have for supporting our transplant community and making Graham a patron of Transplant Sport was an easy decision. We’re very much looking forward to hosting the Westfield Health team in Leeds next summer and celebrating the gift of life that our transplant community has received from their heroic donors.”
For more information on the Westfield Health British Transplant Games 2021, visit: www.britishtramsplantgames.co.uk