Delco Residents Win Medals At 2018 Transplant Games of America

Fifteen Delaware County residents who either gave or received organ transplants participated in Donate Life's 2018 Transplant Games of America in early August, and some of them earned medals during the games.

The 15 people from Delco were among the more than 200 total attendees from the Philadelphia region, which includes Delaware, South Jersey, and eastern Pennsylvania that represented our region when Team Philadelphia traveled to Salt Lake City, Utah.

Some of the Delaware County residents who participated include:

• Nicole Gladfelter, Holmes, kidney donor, gold medals in shotput, long jump, discus and two golds in darts.
• Liana Ivanova, Glen Mills, liver recipient, gold medal in table tennis
• Howard Pritchard, Parksdale, kidney donor, silver medals in the 5K & 1500 meter, bronze medals in cycling and the 100 meter.
• Anne and Jeff Richards, Glenolden. Anne donated a kidney to her son Jeff. Jeff earned a gold medal in Lyrics for Life and a bronze in cornhole.
• Ryan Roby, Springfield, kidney recipient, gold medal in Lyrics for Life and bronze in cornhole.

Members of Team Philadelphia dominated at the Games, bringing home an impressive 150 medals – 69 gold, 43 silver and 38 bronze.

The Transplant Games were held August 2 through Aug. 7, celebrating the success of organ donation.

Athletes competed in the Olympic-style competition, participating in sports such as track and field, swimming, basketball and more.

"It is so inspiring to see hundreds of people from our area and thousands from across the country come together to celebrate the success of organ donation and transplantation," said Howard M. Nathan, President & CEO of Gift of Life Donor Program. "There are so many incredible stories, and every one of those stories started the same way: with someone who selflessly said yes to donation. I am so grateful to our community for its outstanding record of generosity in donation, and so proud of the many athletes who participated this year."

The Transplant Games is a biennial celebration of life, featuring athletes who are living donors; organ transplant recipients; and bone marrow, corneal and tissue transplant recipients.

For more information or to register, they can Visit donors1.org. to learn more about organ donation and to register as an organ donor.

Gift of Life Donor Program is the non-profit, federally-designated organ procurement organization, serving 11.2 million people in this region.

Pictured above is Springfield's Ryan Roby putting up a shot during the 2018 Transplant Games of America

Images via Transplant Games of America