Local Kilcullen butcher and kidney transplant recipient wins bronze medal in Atheltics 400 metres race at the British Transplant Games
By Kim O'Leary
It was a triumphant homecoming for Kilcullen butcher and kidney transplant recipient James Nolan as he scooped up a well-earned bronze medal in the Athletics in the 400 metres men’s event at the Alexander Stadium in Birmingham on Sunday, 5 August.
James Nolan of Nolan’s Butchers in Kilcullen was one of twelve Irish transplant recipients participating in the games, ranging in age from 9 to 70+.
The athletes racked up a total of 21 medals including 9 Gold, 7 Silver and 5 Bronze at the 41st British Transplant Games, and the successful teams include five liver, five kidney and two bone marrow transplant recipients.
The Games which promote organ donation attracted over one thousand transplant recipients with many family and friends also coming along to cheer on the Irish transplant recipients in their events.
Speaking to KildareNow following his victory at British Transplant Games, James said that it was ‘a privilege’ to attend the 41st edition of the Westfield Health British Transplant which take place from Thursday 2 August until Sunday 5 August.
“It was a pretty big event at the impressive Alexander Stadium in Birmingham, and the British did a great job with the event and all of the other events as part of the games. I was feeling a bit unwell earlier in the week, but I was so chuffed to win the bronze medal in the Athletics in the 400-metre race,” said James.
James’ family including his wife Emma and his young son Andrew were also at the games to cheer him on.
“It was a special day as Kildare won the All-Ireland U20 final against Mayo at Croke Park. I was listening to the All-Ireland U20 Final between Kildare and Mayo at Croke Park during warm-up ahead of the race. It was great result for Aaron Masterson and all of the lads on the Kildare Team, they were fantastic and their win gave me a little boost when I ran the race,” explained James, who was delighted to learn the outcome of the clash between Kildare and Mayo on Sunday.
James won bronze in the Athletics in the 400 metres race while 8 participants have qualified ahead of the World Championships next year. In June, James participated in the 10th European Transplant & Dialysis Championships in Cagliari in Sardinia as a member of Team Ireland, and while he lost out on the medal for the 400 metres race he would go on to win a silver medal in Golf for his net score
Meanwhile, James described the ultimate message behind the British Transplant Games as ‘to thank the donors and their families for this second chance at life.’
On July 25, James celebrated 31 years since he received a kidney transplant from his sister Catherine who was his donor and who he is very close to.
He said: “The games are a celebration of life and it showcases the athletes’ gratitude towards their donors and their families for this second chance at life. For me, I can pick up the phone to call my sister Catherine who donated one of her kidneys to me on July 25 1987, she gave me the gift of life and she is very well with a family of her own.”