Medway hosts British Transplant Games

The Westfield Health British Transplant Games will be held in Medway for the first time in its 35-year history this summer.

One of the largest annual multi-sport events in the UK, the Games will run from Thursday, 23 to Sunday, 26 August before the start of the Paralympic Games.

Organised on behalf of the charity Transplant Sport UK, the aim of the games is to encourage transplant patients to regain fitness, promote friendship and co-operation between those taking part and to increase public awareness of the value of organ donation.

The 2012 Games will take place at Medway Park in Gillingham, with sporting events also taking place across Medway and North Kent. The event will aid selection of the Great Britain team for the World Transplant Games.  More than 600 recipients of a life-saving organ transplants will take taking part  in sports such as athletics, swimming, rackets, golf and volleyball.

Medway Council's Portfolio Holder for Community Services Cllr Howard Doe said: "It is very exciting to have the British transplant Games at Medway Park this summer.  With the Olympics and the Paralympics in London, this is certainly an exciting year for sport and for Medway.  I hope that residents support these games and this unique opportunity on our doorstep."

Paul German, a transplant recipient and chair of the Local Sub Group for the Medway Games added: "Like me, all of the competitors taking part have received a life saving transplant and for them the games is not only a celebration of life, but also a way of saying 'thank you' to the donor families for their generosity. Although exciting to watch, all of the athletes compete in a spirit of 'shared experience', never forgetting that one of the main aims of the BTG is to encourage more people to 'carry the card' and sign up to the organ donor register. So please come and support the games – you will be amazed by what you see."

Medway Council is signing up Medway Sports Ambassadors to help with the event.  To find out more or to register your interest email [email protected] or call 01634 338764.

The council have also announced that the Medway Mile will keep on running, although it was initially a lead up celebration to the London Olympics.

The fun run first took place in 2007 to mark the five-year countdown to the games, but has proved so popular that it has now become a highlight of Medway's sporting calendar, with a record number of people taking part this year.

This year's event, on Friday, 27 July, saw more than 3000 residents of all ages walking, running and even skipping a mile through Rochester's historic streets, including 30 Royal Engineers in full kit, people in fancy dress and others raising money for charities.

Many stayed on to enjoy free acrobatic displays, music and children's races, and almost 3,500 people gathered to watch the screening of the Olympic Games opening ceremony.

Medway Council's Portfolio Holder for Community Services Cllr Howard Doe said: "We were delighted to see a record number of more than 3,000 people join in the Medway Mile, which really added to the excitement of the build up to the Olympics opening ceremony. The Medway Mile will continue next year as a fun community event that promotes health and fitness, while also helping to raise money for good causes in Medway."