A WOMAN from Kerry will be the county’s representative on the Irish team heading to the World Transplant Games next month in Newcastle-Gateshead, England.

Anna Pokojska is originally from Poland, and moved to Ireland in 2006 where she now resides in Killarney, with her husband and daughter. She received a kidney transplant in 2017.

Anna will be competing in this year’s World Transplant Games in the 30-39 years category in Cycling (30k road race) and the 5k mini-marathon.

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Anna will be attending the World Transplant Games for the first time, and is looking forward to the new experience and the chance to meet new people. She enjoys outdoor activities such as hiking, cycling and running, with other interests including photography and baking.

Anna says; “After my transplant, I have an opportunity to be more active than before the transplant, and prove to myself that I’m able to do more.”

With just over a month before 39 members of Transplant Team Ireland depart for the World Transplant Games (August 17-24), they gathered at ALSAA Sports Complex Dublin airport on Sunday, 7th July for a motivational talk by international para athlete Mary Fitzgerald.

Ranging in age from 16 to 81, the team of 29 men and 10 women, have all undergone organ transplants including 1 heart, 1 lung, 5 liver, 1 bone marrow and 31 kidney.

The largest ever Irish Transplant Team travelling abroad, they will be among 2000 participants from over 60 countries who will take part in the Games.

Ireland will host next year’s European Transplant & Dialysis Sports Championships in Dublin next summer.

For more information on World Transplant Games and the Irish athletes visit the Irish team blog www.transplantteamireland.ie Visit the Games website www.worldtransplantgames.org