Hi there! Thanks for taking the time to visit our JustGiving page.

In January 2021 I was told that, after having had kidney disease for 15 years, I would need a transplant within the next 2 years. After various family and friends kindly offering to being tested it turned out that Richard, my husband, was a suitable donor! (Lucky that I met him 35 years ago!)

So on 25th January 2023, when my kidney function had decreased to the stage that I would need dialysis we were admitted to Belfast City Hospital for the living donor transplant to take place.

Thanks to the amazing staff in the City and the Ulster hospital, where my follow up treatment continues, I have been able to become a member of TSNI. This has led to Richard, as a living donor, and myself to be members of the team representing Northern Ireland at this year's World Transplant Games.

To raise some money to help the whole team to go the Lyons/Dowling family are taking to the streets of Belfast for the 2025 Marathon and would be so grateful for any donations!

Please read below and follow TSNI on Facebook to hear more about our journey to Dresden.

Transplant Sport Northern Ireland (TSNI) are sending a team of over 20 transplanted athletes and living donors to compete at the World Transplant Games in Dresden, Germany this August. We are collectively fundraising to get us and our support team including our team doctor and physio to Germany.

TSNI do not receive any government or sports funding. As a small charity we do not have the capacity to fund the whole team going to the World Transplant Games in Dresden, Germany which is why we are so grateful for every donation made by friends, family and supporters.

The NI Transplant team is made up of individuals who have had heart, liver, kidney and stem cell transplants. Each of these athletes would not be alive if it wasn't for their donors. Whilst our participation in the World Transplant Games allows us to promote the power of organ donation, it also gives us an opportunity to publicly thank our donor families by being the best version of ourselves and making the most of our second chance at life. A large part of participating in any event organised by the World Transplant Games Federation is to honour Organ Donors.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.