Limerick man Trevor Lynch from Cappamore who is a member of Transplant Team Ireland had cause to celebrate after taking home two gongs from the British Transplant Games.
Trevor, a bone marrow stem cell recipient, competed in the 5K run for Team Transplant Ireland and came in 2nd place, and 3rd in the 1500 meter run.
Trevor who has Lymphoma has had two transplants, one in 2014 but when he relapsed badly in 2015 he needed a donor, and when none of the family were a complete match they had to hope they could find a donor.
“Luckily for Trevor, they found a donor, two matches out of the 25 million on the worldwide donor registry. It was at this point that Trevor promised himself that he would get active again after the transplant. He was given a gift of life and was going to embrace it and participate with Transplant Team Ireland,” said Deborah, Trevor’s sister.
Prior to his illness Trevor had always enjoyed sporting activities and ran half-marathons and triathlons since 2013. He has been training since March for the British Transplant Games.
Though all the family could not be present at the games they plan to be there when he competes for Transplant Team Ireland in the 2019 World Transplant Games.
“Our family is scattered, but we are super close. I wasn’t able to go to Birmingham to cheer Trevor on, that upset me more than I can say. But thankfully for technology and an app called Viber, we were able to be there live with Trevor as he ran his heart out for himself, his donor and Ireland.
“We are so proud of Trevor. I just would like to say that there is hope after transplants, and become a donor.
“This month Trevor will meet his donor, the young man who has given the gift of life, what a special moment that will be,” added Deborah.
