Leuven (The Brussels Morning Newspaper): The Belgian Transplantoux Games in Leuven (Sept 21-22, 2024) featured 500 athletes, including kidney transplant recipient Frederik Peters, promoting organ donation awareness and active living post-transplant.
The Belgian Transplantoux Games are special sports events for people who have had organ transplants. They compete in sports like running, cycling, tennis, and swimming to show that you can still be active and happy after such big surgeries. The games happen in Leuven, and they inspire others in similar situations to stay active. The organization behind the event, Transplantoux, wants to show that living a full life after a transplant is possible and that exercise is important for good health.
What are the highlights and goals of the 2024 Belgian Transplantoux Games in Leuven?
Many athletes at the Belgian Transplantoux Games are getting ready for the World Transplant Games in Leuven in 2027. These international games will bring together transplant recipients from around the world to celebrate life and sports. For the participants, this is a chance to practice and prepare to represent their country. It has been said that by joining these games, athletes not only challenge themselves but also help change how people see life after a transplant. Transplantoux builds a supportive community where everyone encourages each other to stay active and healthy, showing that transplant recipients can achieve great things.
Exercising and playing sports together really helps people connect, according to a transplant surgeon and head of Transplantoux. He mentioned that the main goal of the group is to raise awareness about organ donation since many participants owe their lives to donated organs. For transplant patients, staying active is important for both physical and mental health, and it also allows them to meet others. One member, who had a liver transplant 21 years ago, loves being part of Transplantoux and has seen it grow. He has competed in many World and European Games and plans to participate in triathlon, tennis, and athletics at the next Games.
After having a kidney transplant three years ago, a man enjoys playing table tennis and also tries roller cycling and volleyball, even though volleyball is a bit challenging for him. He likes these sports because they help him meet new people and discuss training and mental strength. He feels that staying active makes him mentally stronger and exercises every day. After his transplant, he joined the Transplantoux cycling team and now wants to explore other sports he can try in Leuven.
