Kingscliff local Peter Prichard is gearing up to celebrate his extended ‘second chance’ at life by participating in next month’s Australian Transplant Games.
Peter, 76, received a life-saving liver transplant in 1997 and has been a keen and winning competitor at the games, in Australia and internationally, ever since.
Highlights include winning gold in lawn bowls at Japan (2001), France (2002) and Canada (2007).
Peter will celebrate 20 years of living with his new liver in May next year.
‘It was a life saver, before the transplant I couldn’t even walk,’ he said.
The Transplant Games are a great way of meeting up with other people with transplants.
‘Some have had heart or lung transplants, others are as young as six. But they are all grateful they got a second chance,’ he said.
Peter is a member of the Cudgen Leagues Club, where he bowls up to three times a week as part of his general fitness routine.
‘It is my main game at my age,’ he said.
Transplants have also been given to his brother and one of his nephews.
The family – Peter is one of 13 children – knows just how important transplants are to keeping families together.
Transplant Australia will stage the Australian Transplant Games, a biannual event, from September 24 till October 1 in Western Sydney to promote the benefits of donation and transplantation.
Organisers are asking people to join the Australian Organ Donor Register online by visiting donatelife.gov.au.
‘For every Australian willing to one day save lives, joining the register is the clearest message a person can give their family that, in the event of their death, they have made a decision to leave a legacy donation to save the lives of other Australians,’ Transplant Australia said.
