The VIPs are the children's transplant sports team from the Evelina Children's Hospital in London - Not only very important people but Very Important Penguins, as our transplant clinic is in the penguin zone!!
The British Transplant Games are a national sporting event; through competitive sport our VIPs who have all received a life saving kidney transplant and in some cases a liver transplant as well can demonstrate their return to fitness, celebrate life, whilst showing that organ donation can have such a positive outcome. However, a transplant is not a cure, it's a life long treatment and our VIPs will be attending hospital regularly for their entire lives! We want each child to be supported & encouraged to reach their potential in life, particularly after overcoming obstacles such as serious and long term illness, multiple hospital admissions and operations and feel the transplant games helps them toward this goal!
Our VIPs showed how fantastic they are by winning the Best Kidney Kids trophy for the 3rd successive year - Yay! We hope you enjoy our small collection of photos attached to this page!
Competing in the 2011 Games will be more expensive than usual as excitedly we are flying to compete in Belfast in Northern Ireland with our biggest ever team of 38 children; We try to subsidise the cost for our families, removing any additional financial burden that families with a chronically ill child can have but this requires serious fund raising........
We are busy bees, trying to reach our target with friends and family undertaking sponsored events, holding BBQs, cake sales, coffee mornings and planning Charity discos and a ball. Several schools are also undertaking fun sponsored events. Not only do these events help us reach our target but they give us great opportunity to spread the word about organ donation and transplantation.
Further information on the VIP events and on the Transplant Games can be obtained by emailing cathy.gill@gstt.nhs.uk or grainne.walsh@gstt.nhs.uk
We rely on friends like you without who we would not be able to support such a terrific team. On behalf of the children, families & staff of the Evelina VIPs we would like to thank you for your interest and generous support of us.
Grainne & Cathy
Team Managers
Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to support us: Guy's and St. Thomas' Charity will receive your money faster and, if you are a UK taxpayer, an extra 28% in tax will be added to your gift at no cost to you. The money you donate to the Evelina VIPs will be directed to the children's transplant fund (CD350) in the Guy's & St Thomas' Charity.
