Member Article

TSG pledges support for British Transplant Games

National IT specialists Technology Services Group has pledged its support towards the 2015 British Transplant Games being hosted by the North East this summer.

The Gosforth-based business is one of the first companies confirmed as a sponsor of the Westfield Health British Transplant Games, which is organised especially for those who have had life-saving organ transplant surgery and the families of donors.

The 2015 NewcastleGateshead Transplant Games are organised by the charity Transplant Sport and will be held from July 30 to August 2.

Carole Beverley, marketing and communications director at TSG, said: “We’re absolutely thrilled to be involved with such an inspirational event and are very proud to be showcasing our fantastic region to the visiting athletes.

“TSG staff are investing a lot of time and effort into helping the organisers make sure the 38th British Transplant Games will be one of the biggest and most celebrated events in the region this year.

“We are providing expertise in marketing and fundraising along with financial support. It’s been an exceptionally satisfying experience so far. It’s also a great opportunity for employee engagement and we will be putting a team into the Donor Run along the quayside and asking for volunteers to help with the games.

“The organising committee contains people with tremendous energy and passion and if we can help them raise awareness of the Games and encourage more regional businesses to participate in whatever way they can then we’ll be delighted.”

The four day event will see competitors take part in a range of sporting activities including swimming at the Sunderland Aquatic Centre, track and field at Gateshead International Stadium, golf, tennis, bowling and around 25 other adult’s and children’s activities at various venues across the region.

As well as providing the opportunity for athletes of all ages and abilities from around the country to compete, the organisers hope that the games will help raise awareness of the importance of registering onto the NHS Organ Donor register and Anthony Nolan register set up to help save the lives of people with blood cancer.

Carole added: “The British Transplant Games are hugely important for giving the competitors a chance to celebrate the new lease of life that their transplants have given them.

“It also helps show the local community just how vital it is for relevant organ donors to be available especially when you hear the staggering facts that more than 10,000 in the UK currently need an organ transplant, three people die each day waiting for a transplant and only 32% of the British population are on the NHS Donor Register. The very least we can do is help raise awareness.

“So many people will be connected in one way or another to a transplant story within their family or through close friends. So this is also about showing the appreciation for all the fantastic medical teams involved around the country and especially in the North East whose hard work brings hope to all those undergoing transplant surgery.”

The Donor Run is on Saturday, August 1, is open to the public and will be staged along the NewcastleGateshead Quayside.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Sarah French .