Chesco Residents Win Medals At 2018 Transplant Games of America

Twelve Chester 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 12 people from Chesco 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 Chester County residents who participated include:

• Mark and Natalie Mirage, Oxford. Natalie received a kidney transplant at age 11. Her father, Mark, donated a kidney altruistically in honor of her donor. Mark earned gold in the 100 meter, silver in the 1500 meter and swimming, and bronze in swimming. Natalie earned gold in tennis singles, silver in swimming, two bronze in swimming, and bronze in tennis doubles.
• Kevin Tighe, Malvern. Kevin received a lung transplant in 2016. He earned the gold in team golf.

The other 9 Chester County residents attended as donor families in honor of their loved ones, or as supporters, friends and family of the team.

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 are Oxford's Natalie and Mark Mirage after a swimming event at the 2018 Transplant Games of America

Images via Transplant Games of America