Transplant Games for 2021: Honor the Journey Coast to Coast

The  Transplant Games of America was originally scheduled for July 2020 in New Jersey, but they were cancelled last year because of the COVID-19 pandemic.   The Transplant Games have now been rescheduled for July 2021 in a new format.  The Games will now be celebrated in a new hybrid format, with some events across the country taking place in communities in the spring.  The theme of the transplant games for 202(1) is “Honor the Journey Coast to Coast”.

  To honor the journey coast to coast, registered athletes will compete in their hometowns and submit results on the Transplant Games website. Competitions can take place between April 1, 2021 and July 1, 2021. The 202(1) Games will not include a Gold, Silver, Bronze medaling format. All registered competitors who complete their events and submit results will receive a TGA Gold medal. 
The Transplant Games of America is a festival-style event that includes medaling competitions, open to transplant recipients (organ, corneal, tissue, and bone marrow) and living donors. Donor family members may compete for fun.

The following athletic competitions will be offered during the transplant Games:

·      Singles Bowling            * Trivia Challenge

·      Singles Golf                    * Youth Olympiad

·      Track (times events only)

·      Cycling                                      * Swimming

·      Texas Hold’em                         * Tx Tok

·      Lyrics for Life (semi-finalist).    * Ballroom dancing

·      5K to the Meadowlands

  Recipients must have been transplanted for at least nine months, with stable graft function, be medically fit and have trained at the events in which they have registered.  All participants must be medically approved by their physician in order to participate.

  You too can be part of the excitement of advocating for organ and tissue donation. Transplant Life Illinois (formerly Team Illinois) is currently recruiting transplant recipients and living donors to participate as athletes in the 202(1) hybrid Games.

  For complete information about Transplant Life Illinois and info on joining the team this year please go to the website: www.goteamillinois.org. Hero donor families, family members, medical professionals and other supporters are also needed to help organize, coordinate, motivate and assist with activities before, during and after the Games.

  Every individual (competitor or non-competitor) registered will receive a commemorative gold medal in celebration of this unique one-of-a-kind event. Registrants will also be shipped a SWAG box, valued at over $65, that will include a souvenir credential, a modified program (TransplantNATION magazine), official 2020 commemorative t-shirt, TGA pin, and additional surprises as well. They will also get access to all the programming for the special events that will take place from May through July.

It is important that anyone who is interested in participating in the transplant games with Transplant Life Illinois needs to join Team Illinois first and not go directly to the Transplant Games of America website.   

  For members of TLI, the Donate Life Transplant Games serve as a way to raise awareness, stay healthy, build camaraderie and honor the donors and their families who selflessly made the decision to give the gift of life.   Help spread the word that organ donation saves lives by joining Transplant Life Illinois today!