A LIMERICK kidney transplant recipient and his best buddy are showing the world how transplants give the power to stay the course.
Robbie Merrigan and his best friend John Lynch are set to undertake the Gift of Life Golf Challenge on June 25.
This audacious challenge will see the duo play 72 holes of golf across four European countries – Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and concluding in Ireland – all within a single day.
The challenge aims to directly support Transplant Sport Ireland, enabling more transplant recipients and dialysis patients across Ireland to experience the transformative power of sport and physical activity, fostering rehabilitation and mental wellbeing.
Having received a life-saving kidney transplant from his rugby teammate and friend Derek Brennan in 2016, Robbie embodies the resilience and renewed vitality that organ donation offers.
Last summer, the Ballybrown native proudly represented his country at the European Transplant and Dialysis Sports Championships in Lisbon, where he secured two silver medals in golf.
Reflecting on the experience, he shared that “the European Games wasn’t just about competition; it was a profound testament to second chances”.
“To stand shoulder-to-shoulder with fellow recipients, representing Ireland, truly underscored the extraordinary impact of organ donation and the boundless possibilities it unlocks on the international stage.”
Living in Cork with his fiancée Kathy, Merrigan, an aviation executive, continues to defy expectations. He will represent Transplant Sport Ireland once more at the prestigious World Transplant Games in Dresden, Germany, in August.
This extraordinary multi-sport event is anticipated to host over 3,000 athletes from around the globe. It’s hoped that an Irish team of 30 athletes will travel and compete across a range of sports from athletics to five-a-side football, in a celebration of life.
Before heading to Dresden, Merrigan will tackle his monumental golf challenge in an effort to fundraise for the team.
“Beyond raising vital funds for Transplant Sport Ireland, our primary mission is to ignite a nationwide conversation about organ donation and highlight how capable a person with an transplant is,” Merrigan added:.
To support the pair’s challenge, visit GolGolfChallenge on Instagram or donate to their GoFundMe page, ‘The Gift of Life Golf Challenge’.
