Event Welcomed More Than 3,500 Athletes
Richie's Spirit Foundation (RSF) was a proud sponsor of the 2014 Transplant Games of America in Houston, TX. The Olympics-style event was attended by 3,500 athletes from across the world, all of whom are transplant recipients or living donors. Competitors ranging in age from 3 to 82 competed in various sports like swimming, track, and basketball.
RSF Board Member, Anna Modlin, competed in the 2014 Transplant Games of America.
One of those athletes was Anna Modlin, RSF Board Member and a double-lung transplant recipient. Anna competed in many swimming events, winning four gold, one silver, and one bronze medals.
"The Transplant Games of America are an amazing experience," Anna said. "Transplant recipients and donors get the opportunity to use our gift of life to achieve goals and to push ourselves to new heights. There is a joy and love of life that is contagious."
Richie's Spirit Foundation Founder and Executive Director, Jordan Herskowitz, also attended the event to congratulate participants and to support athletes and donor families alike. Jordan also manned the RSF information booth in the vendor village, along with his parents, Barbie and Mark, and several other volunteers.
"We met hundreds of people who've received new hearts, kidneys, pancreases, and lungs," recalled Jordan. "We met others who lost children, spouses, and parents who donated their organs, giving the gift of life to so many people who are now able to compete at the games."
Overall, the 2014 Transplant Games of America was a great success in helping RSF to achieve its mission of promoting organ donation to people of all ages. We will be back in 2016 to support this great event! To learn more about the Transplant Games of America, please visit http://www.transplantgamesofamerica.org/.