Organ Donation Works

Introduction to the Canadian Transplant Association
By Gloria Santini (Fall, 1993)

The dream of forming a national organization to promote World Transplant Games all began in September 1987 in Innsbruck, Austria. Six members of our ten member Canadian team sat under the Olympic rings disappointed at the size of our delegation, but very determined to increase the size of our team in the next World Transplant Games in Singapore (1989).

The road was far from easy. It took almost two years and much lobbying to obtain status as a nonprofit charity. We also had to convince the World Transplant Games Federation (the body that governs the WTG) that we were a unified and organized country. Then came the many fundraising events in order to defray some of the costs involved in putting a team together. To our delight we did succeed in spreading the word about the WTG, because in 1989 in Singapore our Canadian team had tripled. We then became members of the Canadian Coalition on Organ Donor Awareness and organized Regional Transplant Games in Toronto, making ourselves known within the transplant community. Our most recent accomplishment of Co-hosting the IX World Transplant Games in Vancouver (July 1993), was indeed an event that we are proud to have been part of.

All of these activities and others were accomplished thanks to the dedication and commitment of several transplant recipients and supporters who truly believed in CTA's mission. CTA is a nonprofit organization of transplant athletes and others committed to positively influencing public attitude towards organ donation, and motivating transplant recipients to maintain a healthy lifestyle by holding athletic events.