It was brilliant to see another great attendance at our Groomsport coffee morning today. Thanks to everyone at The Stables for their welcome and assistance.
Keep checking our social media channels for details of our next venues. ☕️🙂
The British Transplant Games were held recently in Nottingham and Transplant Sport Northern Ireland (TSNI) was well represented with many participants from all over N Ireland. Among them were several of our liver transplant patients, Jim Kilpatrick, Sharon Millen, Paul Lawler, Rachel Chambers, Lucyellen Johnston, Grace Kelly and Indie Hogan.
These games are held each year and the representation from Northern Ireland is increasing year on year. It is a great opportunity to meet and compete with other transplant patients whether they be liver, kidney, lungs or even heart. In addition to this, the competitive spirit and comradery experienced and indeed enjoyed by those who attend add to their overall wellbeing. It is truly an ideal way of making new friends and even, for some, the rekindling of previous expertise.
This year the overall medal count for N Ireland participants was as follows: –
8 x Gold; 14 x Silver and 11 x Bronze.
And those won by liver participants from N Ireland: –
1 x Gold – Sharon (Ladies 3K walk)
6 x Silver – Paul (archery), Jim (10-pin), Sharon (200m & discus), Rachel (discus & long jump)
1 x Bronze – Rachel (archery
In addition, Sharon won the TSNI ‘Best Athlete of the Games’ Award, and Paul was the unanimous winner (along with Sandra) of the TSNI ‘Spirit of the Games’ Award.
We, in the RVH Liver Support Group, would love to see more of our liver patients consider taking part in the games at a future date. And you don’t have to be fully fledged athlete to take part!! There are many games in which you can take part and, so that you know, the next games are planned as follows: (2025 BTG in Oxford 31 Jul – 3 Aug and 2025 World Games in Dresden 17 – 24 August).
The possible entries are Archery, Bowling,10 pin Bowling, Darts, Snooker, Golf, Cycling, Swimming, pétanque, Squash, Badminton, Basketball, Football, Tennis, Table Tennis, Athletics (100m,200m,400m,800m, 1500m), Discus, Shot Put, Javelin, Long Jump and High Jump.
In addition, there are also many sports specifically geared towards transplanted children of all ages who, in our case, would compete with Birmingham Children’s Hospital.
Would you like to take part in the Games next year? Please email us at rvhlsg@gmail.com with the heading “transplant games” and we will send out further information. And, don’t forget, there is no need to be a former sports competitor!!
Thanks to our members Lynda & Chris Robinson, Hillside Trout Fishery have opened their doors to all our members for a day’s family fishing. If you’re an angler already, or would like to try, why not come along for a fun day? Equipment and help for beginners of all ages will be provided if you need it.
There will be a barbecue at the end of the day for all those attending. The event runs from 10.00am to 4.00pm on Saturday 27th July 2024.
Directions are – 175-177 Church Road, Holywood, BT18 9RN. The lake is signposted at the roadside.
The day is free for Support Group members and their families. If you’d like to attend, please let Chris know how many are coming by emailing hillsidetroutfishery@gmail.com
Let’s all support Lynda & Chris’ event, as they support us once more.
After spending her whole life in healthcare, Viral Hepatitis Specialist Nurse Karen Patterson has retired. On behalf of all of the patients she has cared for over the years Chairman of the RVH Liver Support Group, Jim Kilpatrick, wished her a long and pleasant retirement.
Sunday June 9th saw the RVHLSG summer member lunch take place at the Tullyglass Hotel in Ballymena. The event was again well attended and everyone met with new friends and old. The service and the quality of the food provided by the hotel was faultless.
Press release from Mayor’s Office.
Outgoing Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, Councillor Mark Cooper BEM welcomed his three chosen charities to Mossley Mill to present them with a cheque following his fundraising efforts during his Mayoral term. A superb total of £36,965 was raised for the charities: RVH Liver Support Group, Northern Ireland Children’s Hospice and Action Deaf Youth.
Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, Councillor Mark Cooper commented, “Each of these three charities provide a vital service to those in need and I am delighted to be able to support their work. Throughout my term I have hosted many fundraising activities for these charities and I am delighted that together, we have raised nearly £37,000 which I know will benefit them greatly.
“I have always been a strong supporter of the Northern Ireland Children’s Hospice and commend all of the work that they do. Those who know me, will be aware that I am also a passionate advocate for the Deaf Community. It is a huge honour to be able to donate £10,315 to each of these fantastic charities, who I know put the money raised to good use.
“The RVH Liver Support Group is a charity that my family and I have experienced first-hand. On top of the £10,315, I am delighted to donate a further £6,020 to them from a Gala Ball I hosted earlier this year specifically for the charity. The team provide an exceptional service and I am delighted that these much needed funds can go towards supporting their vital work.
“I would like to thank everyone who has supported me throughout the year and donated to these worthwhile causes.”
Today, May 30th 2024, Sr Georgie Fennell had her last day as Sister of 6B Outpatients Department. On behalf of the RVH Liver Support Group we would like to take this opportunity to thank Georgie so much for her sterling work with all of our liver patients who have had occasion to visit 6B. We are sure that many will know her personally.
The painting, presented by her family, deserves a special mention here. It represents her career in nursing from the first day she started work in the RVH back in 1975 to today. Georgie said, she came in on her bicycle wearing a cape to cover her from the rain. She left the bicycle in the bicycle rack and went to her work.
We wish Georgie the best of luck in her retirement.
The RVH Liver Support Group continues to roll out the “coffee morning” patient get togethers, this time in the Everglades Hotel Derry/Londonderry on Monday May 20th. The event was, once again, well attended. We will continue to organise and promote these right around the Province.