September 23rd morning saw yet another very successful coffee morning held at Hillsborough Castle & Gardens. And what a beautiful day weather wise it was too; that just made the day even better and turned up the mood a notch or two as well. Just look at the smiles on everyone’s faces.

As we keep saying these events are one of the several ways where patients can meet with staff from the Support Group and, indeed more importantly, each other. We have no doubt that there were a few new friends made on the day and that is something which we encourage.

Our next coffee morning will be held at Tullyglass Hotel on Oct 13. Put  the date in your diary now and we hope to see you there again along with your relatives or friends.

Liver transplant athletes at British Transplant Games 2026
For Organ Donation Week, we’re shining a spotlight on our liver transplant recipients who took part in the British Transplant Games this year in Sheffield.
Our children and young people competitors were Carter Currie, Grace Kelly, Indie Hogan, Lucyellen Johnston and Cathan Owens, alongside adult competitors Sharon Millen, Cecil Floyd and Wallace Canmore.
The children and young people had a brilliant few days, taking part in track and field, swimming, badminton and an obstacle course race, as well as enjoying a silent disco one evening!
There were some fantastic achievements too. Grace won two gold medals and a silver, as well as receiving the Players’ Player Award. Indie won bronze in the 60m, and Cathan won bronze in badminton.
Our adult competitors also had a successful Games. Cecil won gold in golf, Wallace won silver in the 400m, and Sharon won gold in both the discus and 3km race walk.
The British Transplant Games are a great way to show what life after transplantation can look like. None of these children or adults would have been able to take part without the generosity of their organ donors.
This Organ Donation Week, we celebrate our transplant recipients and remember the donors who made it all possible.

Seamus Cunningham

In 2003, Seamus Cunningham from Fintona was living with end-stage liver disease caused by Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency. He received a liver transplant aged 53, that gave him a second chance at life.
Twenty-three years later, Seamus continues to enjoy the life made possible by his organ donor.
His transplant has allowed him to be there for his two children, Gráinne and Padhraic, and to be a big part of his grandchildren’s lives, watching them grow up and sharing many special family moments along the way.

Seamus continues to live an active and fulfilling life and enjoys getting out for a walk every day.
His story is a great example of the difference organ donation can make. A liver transplant didn’t just save Seamus’s life – it gave him another 23 years with his family and the opportunity to see his children and grandchildren grow, for which he is forever grateful.
This Organ Donation Week, we remember the organ donors and donor families who make stories like Seamus’s possible.

Cecil Floyd.

In December 2022, Cecil Floyd, from Belfast received a life-saving liver transplant after developing end-stage liver disease as a result of Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC).
Since his transplant, Cecil now 66, has certainly made the most of his second chance at life.
Cecil and his family have taken part in the Belfast City Marathon Relay every year since, on behalf of our Group, helping to raise funds.
He has also gone on to compete at the World Transplant Games last year and the British Transplant Games this year. A keen footballer, Cecil has also represented Transplant Sport Northern Ireland at two World Transplant Football Tournaments.

Today, Cecil is extremely fit and active and continues to enjoy doing the things he loves.
None of this would have been possible without his organ donor and the liver transplant that saved his life.
Cecil’s story is another great example of what organ donation can make possible – not only saving a life, but giving someone the opportunity to get back to living it fully.

This Organ Donation Week, we remember the donors and donor families whose generosity makes stories like Cecil’s possible.

Aaron Smyth

In 2016, at just 23 years old, Aaron Smyth received a life-saving liver transplant after becoming seriously ill with Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC).
Aaron’s health had deteriorated to the point where he had to put his university studies and much of his life on hold. Fortunately, living liver donation was an option and his cousin Robert volunteered to be tested and was found to be a match.
In October 2016, Robert donated part of his liver to Aaron at King’s College Hospital in London, making Aaron the first adult from Northern Ireland to receive a living donor liver transplant.
Following his recovery, Aaron returned to Queen’s University Belfast and completed his Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering. He married Eimear in 2020 and they now have two children – a future made possible by the incredible gift his cousin Robert gave him.
This Organ Donation Week, Aaron’s story is a wonderful example of the life-changing difference organ donation, including living donation, can make.

Belfast Trust are inviting patients and carers to register to become members of an Involvement and Experience Forum, to help shape the Trust’s engagement with those it serves. If you’d like to be involved, please use the link in the attached document to register your interest before Friday 16th October.

Please click HERE for more info!!

We don’t often mention the fantastic team that we have in the Outpatients Dept who, as well as looking after our liver patients, look after those in immunology and rheumatology. Well today we have kitted the whole nursing team  with our RVH Liver Support Group jackets which they are now proudly wearing.

And we would like to thank the wonderful team in Outpatients for supporting our liver patients with their usual professionalism and compassion.

Well, what a day that was!. It beat all our expectations. Over 150 of our patients, family and friends attended the UAS at the Eikon Centre on August 23rd. First of all it was a beautiful day allowing us to sit and chat outside whilst enjoying coffee and tray bakes supplied by Wee Bean. The displays of airplanes, helicopters and indeed engines was quite amazing. And  the kids just loved the virtual reality (VR) .

Many thanks to the team at UAS for providing such attentive support on the day!

Brendan Scullion, Captain at Kilkeel Golf Club, and Jeremy Murray, present a cheque to Kay Duffy, founder of the RVH Liver Support Group for £3520. The money was raised during Captain’s Day which was supported by members of Kilkeel Golf Club and family members of the late Paula Murray.

On behalf of the RVH Liver Support Group we would like to thank you for the kind donation.

Yet another very successful coffee morning was held at Mahon’s Hotel in Irvinestown, a location well suited for those from both the Enniskillen and Omagh areas.

It was indeed a greater than expected turn out and everyone absolutely enjoyed the morning’s chat coupled with tea, coffee and scones. The comments after from some of our patients just re-enforced for us the importance of having these events province wide.

Our next coffee event will be held at the famous Hillsborough Castle & Gardens on September 23. You are all very welcome and we hope to see you there!!

Friday evening saw our first paddleboarding event with some of our younger liver patients. We organised an event at the Moira Lakes Outdoor centre and it proved very successful. Committee members Sandra and Patricia were in attendance along with Arthur. Kudos to Sandra too for getting in the water and having a go at the paddleboarding.

It is planned to have more of these summer type outdoor events in the future and Moira Lakes can provide other opportunities, paddleboarding is just one of many.

And this is Michael, the young son of Elizabeth who is living with a liver condition. Michael has just completed a 5K run in Victoria Park in order to raise funds for the RVH Liver Support Group, supported by family and friends. And we are so pleased to say that he raised over £3000.00. Well done Michael and thank you so much for this great work!!