Home News General UK Transplant Kids Jet Off To Switzerland
UK Transplant Kids Jet Off To Switzerland |
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Friday, 13 March 2009 |
It's Snow Wonderful! UK Transplant Kids Jet Off To Switzerland For Special International Transplant Ski Camp. On Saturday 14th March, 17 lucky transplant children aged 8-17 years
are heading off to the mountains of Switzerland to enjoying a week of
ski and snow fun at the TACKERS International Ski Camp, with other
children who have received new organs from across the globe.
The annual TACKERS International Ski Camp is being held from 14th-21st
March 2009 in the snowy village of Anzere. The camp offers the
opportunity for these youngsters to celebrate their second chance of
life and show the general public just how fit and well they are after
their life saving surgery, highlighting the importance of organ
donation. The UK Contingent is 80 strong this year with parents,
siblings and also a UK medical nursing team to assist with the care of
the 50 international children attending from across the World.
Liz Schick, Founder of TACKERS, is herself a liver transplant
recipient. Inspired by her own experiences, Liz developed the TACKERS
Adventure Ski Camp from scratch as a charity adventure camp for
children with organ transplants and this will be her ninth
International Camp as Project Manager for TACKERS. Liz makes a huge
difference to the lives of transplant children across the World. For
many of the children, this will be the very first time they've had the
opportunity to run, play and most importantly 'have fun' as a normal
child. It also gives them the chance to slip the often over-protective
arms of their parents and escape their struggle for long-term good
health for a week of fun! For many, it will also be the first time they
have met other children with transplants like them!
Liz comments "I used to believe that you have a transplant and you're
cured. I now realize that it is only the start of a lifelong battle to
remain fit and well with a daily medication cocktail to keep the organ
healthy. Children face the toughest battle. With a shortage of organs,
it is critical that those youngsters who receive a transplant keep
their new organs for life and continue to enjoy living. We sincerely
thank our sponsors, for without their financial support, TACKERS would
not happen for these amazing children and their families".
Carol Olley, Project Manager for the Transplant Sport UK children's
project 'Transplant Active' says, "All of these children have
experienced near death situations and long periods of illness. Without
the 'Gift of Life' they simply would not be here today! They have
already climbed a mountain in their quest for life and with their
courage and determination; they will enjoy the thrills of skiing down a
mountain in Switzerland. Life is very precious and as there is a
desperate shortage of organs nationally, we do hope that seeing these
amazing youngsters will encourage people to talk to their families
about organ donation and sign the NHS Organ Donor Register.'
The UK kids will be taking part in ski and snowboarding competitions
and making new friends with children from over 12 other countries,
including; New Zealand, Australia, Morocco, Israel, Croatia, Hungary,
France and Ireland. The Transplant Sport UK organisers would sincerely
like to thank The Astellas Foundation for their amazing financial
support for the UK children and TACKERS.
UK Tackers 2009 Participants
Molly Pinnock-aged 8 yrs old- Enfield, Middlesex - Molly had a liver
transplant at the age of 15 months old at Kings College Hospital in
London. Saturday is a special day for Molly as she celebrates her
birthday. Molly is looking forward to meeting other children with
transplants as she has never ever met anyone else with a transplant and
she thinks she is the only one! Mollys story highlights the benefits of
bringing these children together so they can share their experiences
and realise they are not alone. Travelling with Mum Sharon. Mums
partner Mark and brother Alfie for a winter adventure.
Poppy Gamble - aged 12 years from Isle of Wight. Poppy had a liver
transplant at Kings College hospital in London at the age of 13 months.
She has endured many additional problems and has a complicated medical
history so a ski trip is really a dream come true for this amazing
little girl. She can't wait to get out and about on the slopes! Poppy
will be travelling to Switzerland with her Dad Bradley and her sister
Ellie May. The Gamble family have just moved to IOW from Dulwich London
in the past few weeks to enjoy the pace of Island Life.
Gareth Pons - 16yrs old, Chard, Somerset. Gareth suffered from life
threatening kidney disease at received a new kidney aged 10 years old
at Bristol Childrens hospital. Sadly, this transplant failed and after
5 years of haemodialysis, Gareth received a second transplant at
Christmas 2007. This is Gareths first trip with Transplant Active and
he is excited to meet other teens. Travelling with Mum and Dad Donna
and Garry and brothers Ryan and Marcos.
Matthew Barton - aged 16 years old, Chippenham, Wiltshire. Matthew
received a new kidney at Bristol Children's hospital aged 3 years old.
A fit and healthy young man, he is attending TACKERS for the first time
with his Mum Lynne and siblings Robert and Lucy. Matthew is a regular
participant at The British Transplant Games and he is hoping to make
friends with teens his own age, gai some independence at Ski Camp and
enjoy a fantastic experience with others who know exactly how he feels.
Jade Carr-15 years old - Runcorn in Cheshire-Jade had a heart
transplant over 12 years ago and is representing the UK at the World
Transplant Games in Australia in August 2009. This is Jades second
visit to TACKERS and she will be using her experience to mentor new
transplant children learning about the transplant lifestyle. Jade is a
mature and amazing young lady, who admirably devotes much of her time
to promotion of organ donation to help save the lives of others. She is
travelling with her Mum and Dad Lynne and Rob, but looking forward to
some 'independent time' at the Ski Camp.
Delise Casserino-aged 14 yrs from Whalley Range, Manchester. Delise is
a lucky young lady with a very special mum! In 2003, she received the
Gift Of Life from her Mum Romina who was a living related donor. After
receiving her Mums kidney, Delise's life changed dramatically and she
has lived life to the full ever since. Romina and Delise's amazing and
emotional story was recorded in a BBC Documentary 'One Live' and told
their incredible story. Delise is no stranger to TACKERS and this is
her 5th TACKERS! She attends the Camp to help other children as she
speaks fluent Italian as does Mum Romina who is an official TACKERS
Volunteer.
Andrew Boyle - aged 10 years old - Widnes, Cheshire. Andrew received a
new kidney at Alder Hey in Liverpool in February 2008. He is very very
excited to be attending the ski camp along with him Mum and Dad Nicola
and Christopher and brother and sister Gabrielle and Christopher.
Parents Nicola and Christopher are looking forward to meeting parents
who have similar experiences as this is their first Transplant Active
trip as part of the new Alder Hey Children's Transplant Sports Team.
Emma Pease - aged 12 yrs from Barnoldswick, Lancashire. Emma received a
new liver at St James Hospital in Leeds in 2006 aged 9 years old. She
is looking forward to meeting new friends and also spending time
learning to ski as this is her very first time. Emma has also taken
part in the British transplant Games and is a keen horserider. She
recently swam with dolphins in Florida. Emma is travelling to TACKERS
with her Mum Carline and Dad Andrew and they are all very excited.
Charlie Nash, aged 9 yrs old, Southsea, Hants. Charlie is a little girl
with a huge personality! She received a new heart at Great Ormond
Street hospital at the age of 6 years old due to a difficult congenital
heart condition. Her quality of life improved drastically and Charlie
is now learning to cope with her newfound energy and can't wait to get
onto the ski slopes. A plucky young lady, attending TACKERS with her
Mum Lorraine, Mums partner Mark and sister Amy.
Luci Eggleton, aged 13 years from Maresfield, East Sussex. Luci and her
family are to enjoy their very first taste of Transplant Active
membership with this special trip to TACKERS Ski Camp. Luci received a
new kidney in November 2007 at Evelina Children's Hospital in London
and is looking forward to meeting other teens who have also had
transplants. She is attending TACKERS with Mum and Dad Anna and Michael
and also siblings Florence and Alice.
Rebecca Long - aged 15 years - Chester-le-Street, Co Durham. Rebecca
has an amazing story- She received a new hear at the Freeman Hospital
in Newcastle aged 4 years old following a virus - cardio myopathy and
she first attended Tackers in 2002 at the age of 8 years old. She was
due to attend Ski Camp again in 2003 however one week prior to the
camp, she had an unexpected stroke which affected her left side.
Determined to beat the odds, she fought back, despite being told she
would never ski again, to attend a ski camp in Poland in 2004. Sadly
Rebecca's health deteriorated and despite a pacemaker and additional
medication, her heart failed and she was re listed for a second heart
in November 2006. Christmas 2006 was bleak for her family as she was
desperately clinging onto life. Whilst the UK group were at TACKERS Ski
camp in January 2007, we heard the amazing news that Rebecca had
successfully received a second heart and within 6 months, she was once
again a member of her beloved Freeman Children's Transplant Team.
TACKERS Project Manager Liz Schick has especially invited Rebecca back
to TACKERS to celebrate her third chance of life in style on the snowy
peaks of Anzere. Rebecca is being very brave and travelling without her
parents for an independent adventure, in the care of the UK Group
Leader. What an achievement!
Mason Haley - aged 12 years - Cleatormoor, Cumbria. Mason is the UK's
only Bone Marrow participant at TACKERS this year. He received a Bone
Marrow transplant in Newcastle in 2003 after suffering from Cancer.
Mason has just celebrated his 5 year remission and with his family, he
has raised many £1,000's for children's cancer charities in the North
of England. He is an amazing young man and is looking forward to his
winter adventures in Anzere with his Mum Maria and brother Conor.
Mason's amazing story is to featured in a BBC Documentary series of
live shows promoting organ donation during Easter Week, starting on
Easter Monday 13th April 2009
Stephen and Rachael Moffat - aged 12yrs and 7 yrs old. Lanarkshire in
Scotland. Stephen and Rachael have an incredibly emotional story- Due
to a hereditary condition, both children received a new heart at The
Freeman Hospital in Newcastle. Stephen received his new heart in
December 2007 and Rachael in August 2008. These two amazing children
are attending TACKERS Ski Camp to celebrate their new life with Mum
Mary.
Euan Flannigan aged 16 yrs from Edinburgh,Scotland. Euan received a new
heart at the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle in May 2007. He is now a fit
and healthy sporty young man who is about to enjoy his very first ski
trip at TACKERS. Euan is travelling to Anzere without his parents to
enjoy an opportunity to gain some independence and make new friends.
Callum Teasdale - age 13 yrs, Frodsham, Cheshire. This is Callum's
first time at the TACKERS Ski Camp and he is looking forward to meeting
new friends and having fun. Callum received a new liver at Birmingham
Children's hospital in February 1997 aged only 22 months old. A regular
attendee at the British Transplant Games, he is also very proud to be
representing the UK at The World Transplant Games in Australia in
August 2009. Callum is attending Camp with his parents, Adele and
Anthony-both nurses, and also his host of siblings under 10 yrs old,
Niamh, Evan, Alice and Niall. A true family winter adventure.
Jemilah Malarik - aged 11 yrs old from Lupfig, Switzerland. Jemilah
received her new heart at Harefield Hospital in London as a tiny baby.
She is very excited to be attending TACKERS for the first time and she
currently lives in Switzerland due to her parents employment. She is
attending Tackers with Mum Jacqueline and they will be joined later in
the week by Dad Paul and brother Delano. Jemilah is a regular member of
the Harefield Children's Team and competes regularly at the British
Transplant Games. She loves her transplant friends as they have so much
to talk about.
Charlie Dyson - aged 21 years from Bradford. UK TACKERS Volunteer. An
amazing young man, he attended the very first TACKERS Camp in 2001 as a
child and for several years afterwards as a regular attendee. Charlie
received a new kidney in 1994 at the age of 6 years old. Cheeky Charlie
was the darling of the Leeds Children's Transplant Team- well known as
a practical joker - he was always up to mischief!! However, now as a
mature young man of 21yrs, Charlie wants to give back to other children
the care, kindness and guidance shown to himself as a child and is
attending TACKERS as a volunteer for the second time. His experience of
growing up with a transplant will inspire the teenagers of today and we
can guarantee there will not be a dull moment with Charlie around!
Janet Coleman - Belfast, Northern Ireland - 45 years old. UK TACKERS
Volunteer. Transplant Sport UK adult member Janet Coleman is also
attending Tackers. Amazingly Janet received a new kidney in 1984 and is
extremely fit and well, over 25 years after her life saving transplant.
Janet is an active member of Transplant Sport UK and a regular member
of the UK Team at the World Transplant Games as a champion swimmer. She
attends Tackers for the first time as we encourage adult recipients to
learn about children's experiences and also to act as a shining example
to the children of long term transplantation. A former County Level
runner, Janet is a regular competitor at the British Transplant Games,
representing the Northern Ireland Team and has won a host of medals all
over the World. Janet will be a major member of the Local Organising
Committee when the British Transplant Games travel to Belfast in 2011.
Appearing regularly in Irish Fancy Dress at various TSUK events, she is
looking forward to celebrating St Patricks Day 'on the mountain!'
Notes
To register on the NHS Organ Donor Register, please telephone 0845 60 60 400 or go to http://www.uktransplant.org.uk to register online. Most importantly, please discuss your wishes with your family and friends - thank you.
For further information about TACKERS - please go to http://www.tackers.org
For further information on other activities at Transplant Sport UK, please go to http://www.transplantsportuk.org.uk
The 'Transplant Active' Children's programme is an inclusion project
funded by the Department of Children, Schools and Families.
UK Transplant
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