As an athlete of Team USA I am excited to be joining a team of transplant recipients to compete in the 21st World Transplant Games

Ashley Mounger a CKF Patient Ambassador is off to Malaga, Spain this year to compete on Team USA 2017 in the World Transplant Games. This is the Twenty-First World Transplant Games. The World Transplant Games create an atmosphere where people from around the world can come and compete against others who have received the gift of life.To learn more about the World Transplant Games click HERE.Spain has become the world's leader in organ donations and life-saving operations, so it is quite appropriate that the World Transplant Games will be held there this year. Spain has an organ transplant law which presumes consent unless otherwise stated. Rafael Matesanz, the director of Spain's National Transplant Organisation (ONT), helped Spain achieve their position in the transplant world from focusing on distribution to focusing on the donation of organs. Matesanz was also responsible for implementing transplant coordinators in each hospital. He required that each transplant coordinator must be an intensive care specialist as opposed to a technician or nurse.Rafael Matesanz, the director of Spain's National Transplant Organisation (ONT), helped Spain achieve their position in the transplant world from focusing on distribution to focusing on the donation of organs. Matesanz was also responsible for implementing transplant coordinators in each hospital. He required that each transplant coordinator must be an intensive care specialist as opposed to a technician or nurse. This drastically changed the transplant landscape throughout Spain.We invite you to read Ashley's story below and help cheer her on, in the World Transplant Games Team USA 2017! 

Team USA 2017 World Transplant Games Malaga, Spain June 25th-July 2nd

Dear Friend:Many of you know that in June of 2015, I was given a second chance at life through the selfless act of organ donation. With the help of my sister Maurisa, I received a liver transplant and am living life to the fullest by being active post-transplant and enjoying life with my family and friends. This past October of 2016, I was chosen along with 12 other transplant recipients from around the world to represent our countries as Fit for Life! Ambassadors of The World Transplant Games Federation to “encourage recipients to lead active lives post-transplant.”As an athlete of Team USA I am excited to be joining a team of transplant recipients to compete in the 21st World Transplant Games to be held in Malaga, Spain from June 25th-July 2nd! The World Transplant Games is an eight-day and seven-night athletic competition held every two years under the auspices of the World Transplant Games Federation (WTGF). Competition is open to anyone who has received a lifesaving solid organ transplant--heart, intestine, liver, kidney, lung, pancreas, or allogenic bone marrow recipients. This year for the first time, living donors and donor family members will compete in selected events as well (This is extremely special for my family as my sister Maurisa will be able to participate as well).Each athlete’s participation in the World Transplant Games helps dispel the myths surrounding organ transplantation and demonstrates the success of this lifesaving therapy around the world. It also calls attention to the critical need for more donors; there are more than 120,000 people waiting for an organ transplant in the U.S. alone and an average of 18 people die each day waiting for a transplant. In order to register and compete in the World Transplant Games, each athlete is responsible for funding his or her own trip—registration fees, airfare, room and board, and insurance. The estimated cost for each Team USA athlete to attend the World Transplant Games is $3,000. I am seeking financial support* to fund my trip to compete on Team USA in my first World Transplant Games participating in the 100M dash, 200M dash, 4x100M relay, Long Jump, and Volleyball. *IRS regulations state that a financial gift made payable to an athlete is not tax-deductible, but it will help me as a transplant survivor demonstrate to the world that transplantation works and that lives can be made normal again through the miracle of transplantation.I hope you will consider supporting me as an athlete as I have the opportunity to show the U.S. and the world the life-restoring therapy of organ transplantation and the miracle of the greatest gift of all…LIFE!!! Thank you for your consideration and support. To support financially online please visit Crowdrise.com/     For all other donations, please contact Ashleigh Mounger at volleyquinn1187@gmail.com or call 847-602-8770 or Beth Glandt at volley2mum@yahoo.com or 303-519-9980.Sincerely,Ashleigh Mounger