By Jena Carr
Two Greater Geelong residents will compete in the 17th Australian Transplant Games to inspire people to ‘give the gift of tomorrow’.
The six-day event in Canberra features transplant recipients, living donors, donor families, and supporters competing in 19 sports from October 1 to 6 under the theme of ‘Give the gift of tomorrow, register as a donor today’.
Belmont’s Jonathon Walker will compete in the game’s athletics, darts, basketball and ten-pin bowling events.
The 51-year-old was diagnosed with myelofibrosis, a rare form of blood cancer affecting the body’s bone marrow, in 1996 and received a bone marrow transplant in 1997.
“I first started (participating in the games) in 1998 after my transplant, and I’ve been involved with it for a bit over 20 years. I love the camaraderie and all the people you meet,” he said.
“I know that keeping fit and healthy is going to help me long term, so having the games to work towards is helping to keep me motivated on days when I just want to stay in bed.
“Everyone has their unique transplant journey, and sharing those stories with people who have been through a similar experience makes the games so special to me.
“I want to emphasise that people should look into getting on the organ donor register and the most important thing is to talk to your family about what your wishes are if something does happen.”
Geelong’s Xavier Holt will also participate in athletics, tennis and ten-pin bowling during the week’s events.
The 12-year-old was diagnosed with liver cancer when he was 10 months old and received a liver transplant in 2014 following multiple unsuccessful rounds of chemotherapy.
“I’m so grateful for this opportunity to acknowledge the precious gift of life my donor has given me. Without them I wouldn’t be here today,” he said.
Transplant Australia chief executive Chris Thomas said the Australian Transplant Games demonstrated what transplant recipients could achieve on the sporting field.
“Every Australian can make a difference by registering as a donor. It takes just one minute but has the potential to give someone years of extra life,” he said.
