Golfers from across Europe descended on Oxfordshire’s oldest course this week as part of the bi-annual European Transplant and Dialysis Games 2022.
Thirty-five competitors from 10 countries took part in a two-day tournament at Oxford Golf Club, with Ireland’s Michael Dwyer and Marie O’Connor winning the team event.
Great Britain’s Charles Lewis won gold in the men’s individual event while Amanda O’Neil from Ireland won the women’s event.
The Games are being held in England for the first time – 22 years after they were successfully launched in Athens, Greece.
Oxford Golf Club general manager Steve Greenwood hopes the Games can inspire more organ recipients and kidney dialysis patients living locally to play golf and lead healthier lifestyles.
READ ALSO: Protest at Oxford train station against ticket office cuts
He said: “Golf is a fantastic way for people of all ages to be outdoors, lead a healthy and active lifestyle and meet like-minded individuals.
“It was our privilege to host this year’s golf tournaments for the European Transplant and Dialysis Sports Games. Hearing the inspiring stories of players and what prompted them to play golf underlines why participation from beginner levels right up to elite performers is so important.
“Organ donation saves thousands of lives each year, but many more individuals remain on the waiting list.
“We hope The Games can encourage more people to join the NHS Organ Donor Register and would like to congratulate all participants for their achievements at Oxford Golf Club.”
Based on Hilltop Road in Cowley, Oxford Golf Club neighbors the Oxford Transplant Center at Churchill Hospital, the largest pancreas transplant center in Europe and one of only two centers in the UK transplanting small bowels.
Headington-based Dr Paul Harden, chairman of hosts Transplant Sport, said: “We are really grateful to Oxford Golf Club for hosting the golfing event at this year’s Games.
“The club’s proximity to Churchill Hospital in addition to its history and quality course made it our first choice.
READ ALSO: Oxford University launches trial to find treatment for monkeypox
“As an Oxford resident, it makes me proud to see the Games held for the first time in the UK on my doorstep, and my home city being so supportive of our cause.
“Oxford is a center of medical research and innovation, and with a specialist transplantation unit based here it’s fitting the Games is strengthening ties with this fantastic location.”
Transplant Sport is the UK’s largest charity promoting active recovery for transplant recipients and increasing awareness of the benefits of organ donation.
Further information about its work and upcoming events is available online via its website.
A message from our Editor
Thank you for reading this story and supporting the Oxford Mail.
If you like what we do please consider getting a subscription for the Oxford Mail and in return we’ll give you unrestricted access with less adverts across our website from the latest news, investigations, features, and sport.
Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Tik Tok for more.
You can also join the conversation in our Facebook groups: stay ahead of traffic alerts here, keep up to date with the latest from court here, share your favorite memories of Oxford here, get your daily dose of celebrity news here and take some time out with news that will make you smile.
If you’ve got a story for our reporters, send us your news here. You can also list an event for free here.