EVENTS – FUNDRAISING – ACHIEVEMENTS

Shifnal captains trail-blaze transplant fundraising causes

Mulligans Golf Society organiser Mandy Ambert is also the Lady Editor of Midlands Golfer magazine. It was with both hats on that she visited Shifnal Golf Club this spring to see off their new captains as they teed off their years, with personal interest close to her heart.

It was wonderful to be able to join Lesley Smith and Alan Stanley during the last weekend in March as they took on the 2025 Shifnal Golf Club captaincy and chose as their charity the University Hospital of Birmingham Charity and the Edmonds Transplant Unit to raise money for.

Shifnal are the first golf club we know about to raise money for a Transplant specific cause, one dear to our hearts at the Mulligans Golf Society.

They were joined by the newly appointed Presidents, Paul Miller and Judy Mills, with Junior Captain, Hugo Roberts.

Many Shifnal Players and family members came to enjoy some refreshment before the event, and I felt privileged to be able to represent the Organ Donation Awareness campaign as I spoke of my journey to date and the need for the conversation with family members.

We will endeavour to support their functions throughout the year, in particular the Captain’s Charity Day and look forward to March 2026 to learn of their success.

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The World Transplant Games – Dresden, Germany 17th – 24th^th August 2025

The World Transplant Games, supported by the International Olympic Committee, represents the largest organ donor awareness event in the world, featuring a week of 17 sporting events which includes a golf tournament. Team Great Britain will join over 1000 other transplant athletes from 60 countries across the globe.

300+ transplant athletes will descend on Dresden, Germany, which includes 30 junior athletes and 20 Donor and Live Donor families. Team GB will be accompanied by a further 100+ supporters including the management team.

Lynne Holt, Team Manager and Patron of Transplant Sport said: “The World Transplant Games are a great opportunity for our transplant athletes to compete at an international level, to share their stories and inspire people to sign up to the NHS Organ Donor Register. Competing at the British and World Transplant Games would not be possible without the generosity of the organ donors who ensure that these athletes can demonstrate the benefits of lifesaving transplantation.”

“Not only are these athletes’ ambassadors for our country, but they are also representing the charity, Transplant Sport. Being an athlete on the team is an enormous commitment of both time and money. The athletes are busy keeping fit, regularly training in their sport, working, studying, doing publicity and trying to raise the £2k+ per person to get there and compete! However, the opportunity to represent their country, celebrate the gift of life and in doing so, pay tribute to their donors, is the goal!’

“It is always a little daunting competing at the World Transplant Games but with the support of those who have been before, together with the volunteer coaches, captains, management, medical and sport therapy team, the experience will ultimately be a rewarding one for all involved!’

More than 7,600 people in the UK are currently waiting for a transplant and sadly, people die waiting! But with only 61 per cent of the UK population registered as organ donors, and a relative refusal rate of 43%, more work needs to be done to raise awareness of donation and to urge those on the donor register to share their wishes with loved ones.