One Sunshine Coast woman is certainly making the most of her second chance at life.
Meridan Plains resident and liver transplant recipient Kate Clark has returned from the World Transplant Games on cloud nine after breaking world records and taking home multiple gold medals.
The 42-year-old said competing in the games in Perth last month and taking out four gold medals and breaking two world records was a definite highlight of her long athletic career.
Ms Clark, her older brother Johnny and father John were born with a rare genetic disorder called progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis, or PFIC (Type 3), which causes liver disease and failure.
The phone call saying “we’ve got a liver for you” when she was just 17 years old was a life-changing moment she will never forget.
“I received my liver transplant in 1998 and I am forever grateful,” she said.
Since her liver transplant operation, she has honoured her donor and their family by keeping fit and healthy, as well as living her life to the fullest.
While a liver transplant lasts an average of 12 years before another is required, Ms Clark is proud to have been on an almost 25-year journey.
The keen athlete has competed in multiple World Transplant Games, even being awarded Athlete of the Games in 2009.
Related story: The gift of life: Kate makes the most of a second chance
“As a returning athlete, watching the first-timers and youngsters blossom at enjoying the games was so amazing,” Ms Clark said.
“The games offers a level of acceptance and belonging which is unsurpassed, and it was a privilege to witness the next generation experience that.”
In the games, Ms Clark won gold medals in the 5km road race, 3km race walk, 1500m run and triathlon.
She became the inaugural winner of the triathlon and broke the world record for the 1500m run and 3km race walk. She also won a bronze medal as part of Team Australia in the 5km road race team event.
More than 1000 games participants, all recipients of life-saving organ transplants, celebrated more than 10,000 years of additional life so far.
The World Transplant Games is the world’s largest organ donation awareness event which welcomes transplant recipients, their families and supporters, donor families and living donors.
Athletes from 45 countries attended the games, competing in 17 sports to celebrate the gift of life that organ donation gives recipients and their families.
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It was the 24th meeting of the games and the third time they have been held in Australia, after Sydney in 1997 and the Gold Coast in 2009.
World Transplant Games Federation president Chris Thomas said the games were about celebrating transplantation and the new lease on life it gives recipients.
“To hear that participants from these games have lived an extra 10,000 years is incredible and highlights to success of transplantation,” Mr Thomas said.
“The World Transplant Games have united the global transplant community to honour the real heroes – organ donors and their families.
“Everyone can make a difference by registering as a donor. It takes just one minute but has the potential to give someone years of extra life.”
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