Indian Transplant Newsletter Vol. V Issue NO.: 16 (Oct 2003 - Feb 2004)
Print ISSN 0972 - 1568

Ready Set ..... Go!

Indian Transplant Newsletter.
Vol. V Issue NO.: 16 (Oct 2003 - Feb 2004)
Print ISSN 0972 - 1568
Print PDF


Will it , won’t it, will it, wont it rain on December 13 and 14, 2003 was  a question uppermost in our minds since the months of October, November and December are  the monsoon months in Chennai.  With rains not making an appearance in  November, there was every possibility that they would  play a full fledged role in December.  Being a part of water starved city we wished for rain yet hoped it would not wash away out the first ever  All India Transplant Games held in Chennai.  But what mattered was the spirit  of all the participants  that came through shining.

 

With the nitty gritty of registration taken care of, on the morning of December 13, by our energetic group of volunteers, the stage was set  for the organ donation walk in the afternoon to be followed by  the opening ceremony and formal inauguration of the VIII  All India Transplant Games.  The walk had an unprecedented response with more than 2000 college student, patients and their families participating and making sure that the message of organ donation reached the streets of Chennai.

 

It was time then for the inaugural function to get underway.  It started with a brisk march past with recipients and donors with a marvelous police  band in attendance.  The salute was taken  by the Chief Guest Mr. R. Natraj, IPS Commissioner of Police (Chennai) after which the Transplant Games torch was handed over  by Mr. V. R. Lakshminarayan IPS patron of the VIII  All India Transplant Games, to one of the youngest participants of the games, 9 year old  Sanketh. The boy lit the cauldron to a burst of spontaneous applause from the audience who was touched  and awed by the spirit of this young child.  Mr. Natraj then declared the games open. Mr. Srikanth,who has inspired many an aspiring cricketer, hoisted the flag and said the participants were already winners. Dr T K Parthasarthy Pro-chancellor, SRMC, hoisted the MOHAN and Tanker Foundation Flags.  Our privileged guests and guests of honor came on the dais. The guests of honor were Dr. RVS Yadav, President AITGF, PMGF Ln NS Shankar, Lions Club, Rtn Bejamin Cherian- Dist Governor elect, Rotary Club and Mrs. Revathi Menon- director and social activist.  Dr. MA Muthusetupathi, Organising chairperson welcomed the gathering to this unique event. This was followed by felicitation of all guests. Since this was the first time that two NGOs had been entrusted with the task of organising the transplant games, Mrs. Malathi Venkatesan, Organising Secretary, highlighted the key activities of MOHAN  and TANKER Foundations and the role they play in popularising the concept of organ donation and also making dialysis  accessible  to the economically challenged. Dr Georgi Abraham, ( Founder Trustee, TANKER Foundation) spoke of the importance of cadaver transplants. The chief guest - Mr Natraj, said that while the police were doing their best to bring down the numbe of road-traffic accidents, they would continue  to work on ensuring  that accident victims  had access to quick medical care. PMGF Ln N.S.Shankar, Lions Club on behalf of Dr.Gowri Chandrakasan, Dist Governor, Lions Club promised that Lions Club would collaborate with MOHAN Foundation on its Organ Donation Awareness Projects. Rtn Benjamin Cherian, Dist. Governor Elect, Rotary Club, also said that the network of Rotary Clubs could help propagate the message of organ donation.

 

Mrs. Revathi Menon won over the hearts of everyone when she mentioned that she still had the donor card that she had signedway back on Jan 12, 1997, the day that the Donor Card was first launched. Dr. R.V.S Yadav spoke about the countrywide  journey that the All India Transplant the games had made and the important role it played in making the transplant recipients feel a part of the mainstream society. On this special occasion a souvenir titled, "Life... Pass it On” was released along with the 15th edition of the Indian Transplant Newsletter and a Physician's manual on Cadaver Transplantation.  The inagural function came to a close with a vote of thanks by Dr Sunil Shroff, Managing Trustee, MOHAN Foundation. The highlight of the evening was the signing of a giant Donor Card by all the guests endorsing organ donation. They also autographed a football, which became a emblem of the VII All India Transplant GAmes, in a manner of speaking.

 

 With the formalities done, of getting the games underway everyone had only one thing to say “Lets the games begin!”.  Excitement, apprehension, happiness, patriotic fervour mingled with the indomitable human spirit  to give the games a special feel on those two days. While it was hearteneing to see the winners breasting the tape, all those who watched, every single transplant recipient who was participanting was worthy of a medal. After two days of fun and games , the VIII All India and SAARC Transplant Games came to a close with a short Valedictory function. The guest of Honour were india's very own World Champion in Long jump, Mrs. Anju Bobby George and Mr. Bobby George, himself a successful athlete and now, Anju's coach. The winners in the various events of the Transplant Games were very happy to receive their medal from such inspiring persons. Anju has set her sights on an Olympic medal next, and our participating transplant recipients, donors and their families, having proved yet again that their intangible spirit will take them places, are now all set as well to take an "Olympian leap" into the future. 


To cite : Shroff S, Navin S. Ready Set ..... Go!. Indian Transplant Newsletter Vol. V Issue NO.: 16 (Oct 2003 - Feb 2004).
Available at:
https://www.itnnews.co.in/indian-transplant-newsletter/issue16/READY-SET-GO-273.htm

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