Empowering Transplant Athletes to Conquer the World

SATSA was established in April 1994 as a non-profit multi-sports organisation, is a member of SASCOC as well as the World Transplant Games Federation (WTGF). Members of SATSA are transplant recipients of solid organs and bone marrow. These transplanted athletes have, together with the support from family, friends and the community, set an example of endurance following many years of chronic illness, and is celebrating their new life every day.

ACHIEVEMENTS

Community involvement:

Being part of the greater transplant community in South Africa, SATSA plays a major part in encouraging transplantees to adopt a healthy, active lifestyle by being part of all major support groups at transplant centres. By participating in outreach days, members of SATSA promote organ donation and transplantation and through that strengthen the work of the Organ Donor Foundation.

Sport achievements:

Transplanted athletes have performed exceptionally well in the World Transplant Games (WTG) since 1995. At the 2007 WTG, the SA Team came 25th out of 43 countries participating and improved to came 3rd out of 54 countries in 2017.

PROJECT OBJECTIVES

Persons who have received organ transplants need to embrace their New Life by not just becoming physically more active, but also to participate in sports activities on different levels.

To identify transplanted athletes from disadvantaged backgrounds who show potential for capacity building to become athletes who can participate on a national and international level. The focus will be on the youth (18-35 years).
To increase participation in sports activities on provincial level by facilitation opportunities for coaching and development of these athletes to progress to participation in the National Transplant Games 30th June till 3rd July 2021.
To develop athletes who qualified to participate in the World Transplant Games through capacity building by means of coaching and expertise input (Sports Science)
To encourage transplantees to follow a healthy living lifestyle physically and emotionally, through physical activities and health education.

How will the project address the above?

Increase sports participation: Following the identification of sports abilities and skills in transplantees, these persons will be introduced into a training programme and be registered to participate in the National Transplant Games that takes place every two years (next Games in 2022).
Capacity building of athletes: Athletes who have qualified through the National Transplant Games to be included in the SA Team to participate in the World Transplant Games (WTG) 2023 in Perth, Australia, will follow a coaching programme and be assessed during a Training Camp at the University of the Free State.

How will the community benefit from the project?

The focus of this project is on persons who had organ transplants but also include the families of these transplantees who play a supporting role in their New Life experience. These persons could also have an influence on the community by demonstrating a more healthy active lifestyle in spite of having had chronic illnesses.

Where will the project be implemented?

Persons involved in this project will come from all Regions of SATSA, but the emphasis will be placed on athletes from disadvantaged backgrounds.

IN CONCLUSION

Without support from fundraising platforms such as Different.org, it would be impossible for disadvantaged athletes to be empowered and developed to be part of the South African Team to participate in the National Transplant Games 2022 as well as the World Transplant Games 2023.

Empowering Transplant Athletes to Conquer the World

by South African Sports Transplant Association

South Africa Health Care

Project activity

Funded to date:

R 12,310

Funding goal: R 100,000

NGO: South African Sports Transplant Association

Start: 1st March 2022

End: 23rd February 2023

PBO: 930 028 335

NPO: 004-594

Field agent: Jan Marais
admin@transplantsports.org.za

Empowering Transplant Athletes to Conquer the World

by South African Sports Transplant Association

South Africa Health Care

#doDifferent

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Project activity

Funded to date:

R 12,310

Funding goal: R 100,000

NGO: South African Sports Transplant Association

Start: 1st March 2022

End: 23rd February 2023

PBO: 930 028 335

NPO: 004-594

Field agent: Jan Marais admin@transplantsports.org.za

Field agent: Jan Marais
admin@transplantsports.org.za