The Refit for Life! toolkit is an initiative of the World Transplant Games Federations global Fit for Life! programme, aimed to help transplant recipients take the first steps to get active and start enjoying an increased quality of life. A rehabilitation programme aimed directly at transplant recipients with advice, guidance and examples to help you improve not only your fitness and nutrition, but your mental wellbeing and overall quality of life! The toolkit is designed to support, NOT REPLACE, the relationship that exists between you and your doctor or other healthcare professional. Make sure you discuss your fitness and lifestyle goals with your physician before signing up for this programme. View here for full details.
Refit for Life! includes a Wellness Hub that caters for recipients at various stages of their transplant journey. Emotional and mental wellness are also essential in rehabilitation and ongoing health and longevity. Receiving an organ transplant can be emotionally and mentally challenging. Our Wellness Series offers free online video courses designed to offer support with tools and programs that can help patients cope with stress, anxiety, setbacks and finding hope and fulfilment in their ongoing life journey. View here for full details.
Over the past few years the Federation has successfully been appointing transplant recipients from around the globe who are ‘living and breathing’ the Fit for Life! mantra to represent the WTGF as ambassadors. Our Ambassadors promote the Fit for Life! mantra to transplant units, participate in sporting events, and encourage others to attend the Games. Additional Fit for Life! Ambassadors are appointed on an ongoing basis with an aim to have at least one Ambassador representing every one of our member countries.
The Fit for Life! panel is a group of individuals with expertise and a passion for promoting physical activity post-transplant. Workshops are held between these experts to further advance the literature and develop evidence-based exercise training programmes for transplant recipients. The panel includes transplant surgeons, sports medicine practitioners, nutritionist, bio mechanists, physiotherapists and transplant athletes. Should you have an interest in joining our panel, please contact the WTGF office on wtgf@wtgf.org.
The Fit for Life! resources page will provide you with evidence-based literature to support why participating in physical activity post-transplant has been proved very beneficial. Our Fit for Life! Panel audit hundreds of publications, some of which can be found here: Library
The Federation regularly attends and presents at Medical Congresses and Transplant Conferences worldwide to further our reach to a worldwide audience. The WTGF also aims to grow our global network and research into the ever-evolving landscape of transplantation and physical activity post-transplant. Recent exhibitions were held at CAST 2023 in Hong Kong and ESOT Congress 2023 in Athens.
The Federation holds virtual events and challenges throughout the year to keep our worldwide community active and connected. The Billion Steps Challenge was successfully held in 2017, 2020 and 2021. Since then we’ve hosted a virtual Golf and Tenpin Bowling Challenge. Our most recent virtual event was the World Transplant Cycle Challenge fundraiser 2023 to raise organ and tissue donation awareness.
The aim is to develop a Fit for Life! app designed for both Andriod and IOS devices for all to enjoy. The app will include essential Fit for Life! information, key dates and events as well as the created exercise and nutrition plans for post transplantation. Watch this space!