Birmingham hospital charity highlights World Organ Donation Day

Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham Charity is marking World Organ Donation Day on 13 August by celebrating the Birmingham Adult Transplant Sport Team, supported by the Charity.

The Birmingham Adult Transplant Sport Team is made up of recipients of solid organ, stem cell or bone marrow transplants, and many of its members went through their organ transplant journey at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham. Members range in age from 18 to over 80, all of whom have used sport to help their recovery after their transplants. Some of the members have even donated organs themselves.

Each year, the team participate in the British Transplant Games, an annual event which brings organ transplant recipients together to raise awareness for organ donation, thank their donors and celebrate the gift of life. This year’s games took place in Oxford from 31 July to 3 August and saw 1,000 transplant recipients competing in over 20 sporting events over the weekend. The Birmingham team, led by volunteer manager, Martin Searle had 48 competitors taking part this year and the team came away with 48 gold medals, 16 silver medals and 7 bronze medals, as well as being awarded the Best Overall Adult Transplant Team for the fourth year in a row.

The team have even more to celebrate, as several members have been selected to represent Great Britain at the 2025 World Transplant Games taking place in Dresden, Germany from 17 – 24 August.

Tia Thomas has been selected for the volleyball and basketball team. In 2021, Tia’s life was turned upside down when she suffered multiple cardiac arrests and was placed on the urgent heart transplant list. She spent over 5 months at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham apart from her family and 6-month-old son. In April 2023, Tia finally received her heart transplant and her road to recovery began.

Prior to her health problems, Tia used to play a lot of sports but since becoming ill she lost her confidence and didn’t think she’d be able to play sports again. She was then introduced to the British Transplant Games and competed for the first time last year. Tia said, “After going to my first games in 2024, my whole perception on life changed. I met people who were similar to me, who still have the drive, and somebody said: ‘why can’t you be better than before?’ That really stuck with me, so I’ve kept up my training and I’m delighted to have been picked for volleyball and basketball at the World Transplant Games.”

Earlier this year, the Edmonds Transplant Centre Birmingham officially opened at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham. The hospital charity funded the £4.1 million centre, and it has transformed the treatment and recovery journey for transplant patients. The centre of excellence is a “one-stop-shop” bringing all the specialist care to one area of the hospital, including pre-transplant consultations, additional fitness classes before surgery, patients support groups and rehabilitation classes after surgery.

Tia added, “I’d like to say thank you to all of the donors, families and everybody who supported the Edmonds Transplant Centre. Without you, myself and other transplant recipients wouldn’t even be able to complete in the games, so thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

World Organ Donation Day is celebrated annually on 13th August and is an opportunity to raise awareness about organ donation and the importance of having that conversation with your family, so they know your wishes. It also aims to honour the selfless act of organ donors and their families and celebrate the gift of life.

For more information visit our Transplant Appeal page.