Laura McDowell from Dalkey, Co Dublin will represent Ireland at the European Transplant Sports Championships to be held in Lisbon Portugal from Sunday 21st July - 28th July 2024. This sporting event will be an invaluable opportunity to showcase the benefits of Organ Donation and it is a true celebration of the Gift of Life.
Laura was diagnosed with Biliary Atresia where her liver was unable to remove harmful toxins which slowly poison the body and she was given just six weeks to live. When she was one year old, her devoted aunt, a GP, stepped in to save her life with an organ donation. Now aged 15, Laura will represent Ireland in the European Sports Championships. No stranger to competition or wearing the Irish jersey, Laura has taken part in the British Transplant Games for several years. Last year in Coventry, Laura won Gold in the 2.5k Road race, Gold in the Long Jump and Gold in the 200m! She has also medaled in Leeds 2022, Newport Wales in 2019 and participated in the Games in Birmingham also in 2018!
There are 28 athletes traveling to Lisbon, led by Team Manager Harry Ward from Baldoyle, along with a number of supporters. Athletes will take part in a variety of Sports including Athletics, Badminton, 10 Pin Bowling, Cycling, Darts, Golf, Swimming, Table Tennis, Tennis, and Petanque. The Irish Transplant Team holds an excellent record in sporting success, competing at the World, European and British Sports Championships and some Irish athletes hold the World and European records in their sporting disciplines. This helps to inspire others who are perhaps newly diagnosed with organ failure and are unsure of what their future holds. Laura is Team Ireland’s youngest competitor, and is taking part in the 5K mini marathon, the Long Jump, the 200m, 1500m and tennis! Laura believes Lisbon represents an opportunity to take competing in transplant sports to the next level. She hopes that more Irish teenagers can join her at the European level in the future.