The World Transplant Games Federation has commenced a Hall of Fame to honour long-standing competitors, as well as individuals who have played an integral part of the leadership of the World Transplant Games Federation. The below information highlights the categories and these special individuals.
Sports has played an important role in Janos’s life since he was a child, playing handball at a very young age until his early twenties. A physical education teacher by profession, Janos has had the opportunity to pass on the love of movement to children.
After receiving his first kidney transplant in 1992, Janos participated in his first World transplant Games in Vancouver, Canada in 1993. It was a great experience for him and helped his recovery. After that, Janos represented his country consecutively at the games, with the exception of the summer games in Bangkok 2007, due to his first transplanted kidney failing. After receiving his second kidney in March 2008, Janos has been able to attend each games again since Gold Coast 2009, winning many medals in volleyball, table tennis and badminton.
“I thank my doctors, the staff at the clinic, my family, the Hungarian Transplant Sports Federation for making this wonderful experience possible and for helping me achieve my goals. It was a wonderful experience to receive this award!”
A pioneer of transplant sport in Italy, Michael has drawn attention to transplantation and organ donation by his successes as a transplant athlete. In 1990, Michael founded Transplant Sportclub, the first sports club for transplant recipients in Italy, of which he was President for 30 years.
Michael has also spearheaded numerous national and international events, drawing attention to the success of transplantation, and promoting the message of organ donation. One of these being the Euregio Transplant Tour from Innsbruck to Lake Garda, over 3 days covering more than 300 km with over 100 participants from 9 nations, half of whom are transplant recipients. These events aim to sensitize the public to organ donation and to show that people are capable of top performances thanks to organ donation. At the same time, to say a big thank you to organ donors and donor families.
Michael has competed in 16 World Transplant Games from 1987 to 2023, winning 4 silver and 6 bronze medals. For 25 years (1987 – 2013) he was a successful cyclist and athlete among transplant recipients. His sporting history totals 162 transplant competitions, winning 68 times, taking 2nd place 25 times and 3rd place 16 times. For more than half of his life as a transplant recipient, he tried to encourage others to do sports and thus achieve a better quality of life.
“Thank you for this recognition, I am very honored to be nominated into the Hall of Fame. Thank you!”
Throughout his life, André has been actively involved in various boards and organizations. He served as the Chairman of the Dutch Sport and Transplantation, Chairman of the Dutch Sport and Recreation for Heart-Lung Transplant Recipients, Vice-Chairman of the European Heart and Lung Transplant Federation, and Chairman of the LOC Apeldoorn 2012 for the European Heart and Lung Transplant Championships. Additionally, he served as a WTGF Trustee from 2013 to 2021 and held key positions in the Membership Committee, Sport Committee, and as the inaugural Chairman of the new Football Committee. He was also instrumental in introducing the Sprint Triathlon.
In 2014, André accomplished a personal milestone by summiting Mount Kilimanjaro. Two years later, he embarked on a cycling journey, visiting 15 transplant centres for children across cities like Amsterdam, Brussels, London, Paris, and Madrid, ultimately reaching Malaga in Spain. The purpose of this endeavor was to raise awareness and promote physical activity for children on the transplant waiting list, as well as inspire parents by demonstrating the hopeful future that lies ahead after a transplant. His passion and dedication have helped many fellow recipients.
In recognition of his efforts, André received the prestigious Award of the European Lung Foundation in 2015, acknowledging his role in inspiring people with lung conditions to lead active lives. Although the Dutch Transplant Foundation facilitated a letter of gratitude to André’s unknown donor family a year after his transplant, twenty years later, attempts to reconnect with the family were unsuccessful. To this day, the donor family remains unaware of André’s deep and enduring gratitude for the gift they bestowed upon him.
“Taking care of my body like this has helped me to be able to do more of the things I most like to do.”
It is with immense sadness that we share the news that André Lassooij, passed away in June 2023 after a courageous fight. André’s passion and dedication touched the lives of countless fellow recipients, offering them hope. Let us cherish the memories we shared knowing that his legacy will continue to inspire us all.
His passion for the World Transplant Games was ignited in 2007 when he accompanied the Australian team to Bangkok, Thailand. Inspired by the achievements of transplant recipients and the spirit of camaraderie, Chris fell in love with the event.
In 2008, Chris organized the Australian Transplant Games in Perth, laying the foundation for the successful staging of the 2009 World Transplant Games in the Gold Coast, Australia, where he served as chairman. He was elected as a Trustee of the World Transplant Games Federation (WTGF) and played a leading role in communications.
Chris introduced new initiatives such as a revised accounting system, a fresh logo and brand guidelines for the WTGF. His efforts were recognized at the 2013 World Transplant Games in Durban, South Africa, where he was elected to the executive committee and served as Treasurer.
In 2015, Chris was elected President of the WTGF, a position he held for eight years. Under his leadership, the organization achieved milestones like professionalizing management staff, incorporating as a legal entity, and launching the Fit For Life program. He also fostered partnerships with the International Olympic Committee and raised the profile of the WTGF globally.
Chris’s tenure saw the inclusion of WTGF programs and brand in major congresses and events worldwide. He introduced virtual events, a rehabilitation program, and initiatives supporting research and youth engagement in the transplantation community.
Throughout his remarkable journey, Chris’s leadership, vision, and compassion have shaped the WTGF and raised awareness for organ donation.
With a comprehensive plan in mind, she took action and was subsequently elected by the Ministry of Sports and Youth as the President of the Transplant Sports Association. Soon after, she also assumed the role of President of the Specific Patients and Transplant Sports Federation.
Over the past 12 years, Fatemeh has been dedicated to organizing educational, training, and competitive events. Currently, there are 31 active boards in each province of Iran, offering sports services to more than 3000 transplant patients and 6000 specific patients.
Among her most cherished memories was the opportunity to participate in the World Transplant Games in Australia 1997, where she represented her organization as the sole participant. This experience continues to inspire her, driving her efforts to provide every transplanted patient with the chance to partake in global events.
“Being included in the WTGF’s Hall of Fame has increased my strength and effort to do more for transplanted patients in sports”
His past experience was as Executive Director of the American Association of Kidney Patients (AAKP), leadership roles with the September 11th Families Association – 9/11 Tribute Center, the American Lung Association of New York, Vice-President with the National Kidney Foundation, and previously Director of the Gift of Life Initiative. Prior to that, Gary served as Regional Director for the NKF serving the northeastern U.S. and Executive Director for the Kidney Foundation of Maryland.
Gary attended his first World Games in Vancouver in 1993 and has been with the World Transplant Games Federation ever since. Elected onto the Council in 1995 and serving as Chair of the Sports and the Judiciary Committees. He was also elected to the Executive Board first as Treasurer and then Honorary Secretary. Gary currently serves as the WTGF Sports Manager as well as team manager for Team USA.
“I love inspiring people to achieve more than they thought possible, there’s no better contribution I can make”.
She is a trail blazing pioneer, and retired nurse, who in her second chance at life:
In addition to transplant games, Heather competes in national and international Masters field events, having recently taken up throwing things: javelin, discus and shot put!
Heather continues to inspire others and is living proof that transplants work.
Karl traveled with a small group of German kidney recipients to Portesmouth/UK, participating in the first Kidney Olympics. He became the role of the speaker for all German speaking participants. 1987 the group participated at the World Transplant Games in Lake Placid/USA. On their way home, still at the airport in New York, these people established, Deutsche Sportvereiningung für Nierentransplantierte e. V.
From this first worldwide event in Lake Placid, Karl was in contact with Maurice Slapac (WTGF Founding President) to give transplant sports structure and rules. He became an integral part of our leadership and history as a Federation. In all these 30 years, interrupted for three years because the damage of his donor kidney, Karl constantly gave manpower to support the idea of physical activity (sports) after organ transplantation. Karl, called “KARLO” was for many years a member of the board of TransDia Sport Deutschland, and is honored today as TransDias “Hon. Senior President”. He also served for many years as a councillor fort he WTGF.
Liz founded TACKERS in 2002 – since then17 winter camps have been held in Anzère, Switzerland with hundreds of children, from around 35 different countries, participating over the years. The aim is for the children to develop their independence by trying new activities such as skiing, snowboarding, dog sleighing, scuba-diving and paragliding and to develop a support network to help their families and each other.
The camps provide an environment outside of the hospital to educate the children to comply with their post-transplant medication programme, promote good health and a fulfilling life and most importantly have fun! Camp rebuilds their confidence and shows them and their parents that they can live life independently, like others. It is also a unique way to educate and promote the positive results of organ donation and transplantation to transplant recipients, healthcare professionals and the general public.
Liz also helps to organise conferences on the topic of organ donation and transplantation as well as speaking at worldwide congresses and competing in the winter and summer World Transplant Games.
In 2011, Liz was elected to the World Transplant Games Federation Council and now sits on the Board of Trustees as an Executive member with the title of Honorary Secretary since 2016. She also works as project manager for Swisstransplant.
A few years ago Liz even climbed Kilimanjaro! She will never be able to thank her donor’s family enough although she thanks them every single day.
Following the General Assembly of the WTGF at the 2023 World Transplant Games in Perth, Australia, the Board of Trustees met and elected Honorary Secretary Liz Schick as the new President of the World Transplant Games Federation. Liz will serve her term for eight years.
“The transplant community is my family, and together we will continue to celebrate the gift of life and thank our donors by holding inspiring events for the transplant community. Most importantly, we will create awareness for organ donation and highlight the need to be physically active to keep our transplanted organs as long as possible and for the transplant community’s mental wellbeing. I am extremely grateful to be entrusted in this position and be a voice for the global transplant community.” Liz Schick – WTGF President.
They were exciting and challenging times in those early days of heart transplantation. Lynne became very involved and soon realized that she wanted to specialise in this field. She was the first Clinical Transplant Coordinator appointment in the UK when she moved to the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle 33 years ago. Her role involved coordinating the whole transplant process from when the patient is referred for assessment, joins the waiting list, to receiving offers of organs, organizing the theatre teams, retrievals and supporting the patients and their families throughout the whole transplant journey, training, advisory role to other centres nationally and internationally.
Lynne has been involved as a volunteer for Transplant Sport since 1982 and a World Transplant Games Federation Councillor from 2007-2015.
Lynne is committed to making a difference in promoting awareness of organ donation and has been involved in organising the British Transplant Games, fundraising and PR events, numerous satellite sport events in the UK and abroad, including Children’s ski camps, the European Transplant and Dialysis Games, the World Winter and Summer Transplant Games. In 2019 the WTG were held in NewcastleGateshead, UK and Lynne was the invaluable World Games team coordinator.
Lynne is probably best-known worldwide as the popular Team Manager for Team Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Orien was one of the key figures in the Federation’s early history and development, serving as a member of the WTGF Council and the chair of the Sport Committee for many years.
His passion was athletics – specifically the sprinting events – and was himself an international competitor and club record holder. His contributions to athletics, in particular in his coaching, officiating, and managing of the Portsmouth Athletic Club, earned him the gratitude of legions of athletes, parents, and athletics supporters. He served as club president for many years, and as a result of his work, was named an honorary Life Vice President. During his life he became a dialysis patient and subsequently received two kidney transplants.
As a tribute to his life of sports and his contributions to so many, his memorial service on 27th October began at the Portsmouth Athletic Club’s competition venue in Alexandra Park with his family and friends accompanying him on his final 100 meters.