Transplant Team Arizona

Transplant Team Arizona (TTA) is a team made up of athletes who are organ recipients, living donors and donor families who represent Arizona at the Transplant Games of America and World Games. The team honors their gift of life through friendly competitions, and developing bonds and camaraderie with other organ recipients and families who have shared similar journeys.

The Team also encourages recipients to actively become involved with their own healthcare, through education, information, support, and other resources. TTA provides opportunities for training and developing skills for certain competitions at the Games. As a member of TTA, you have access to fundraising to help cover expenses associated with traveling to and participating in the Games.

TTA actively promotes organ and tissue donation by continually demonstrating the success of organ donation and tranplantation! We are always looking for participants to join our Team!

Membership

Interested in Transplant Games?

group of transplant recipients having fun in front of the TGA flag.

Sponsor the Team

Transplant Games of America

Every two years the Transplant Games of America gathers together thousands of transplant recipients, living donors, donor families, individuals on the waiting list, caregivers, transplant professionals, supporters and spectators for the world’s largest celebration of life. During this truly unique and inspiring week, 40 state teams and several international teams compete in 50 athletic and recreational competitions. In addition to these medaling events, there are more 60 special events held throughout the Games meant for all attendees to enjoy. These events not only serve as an opportunity for donor families, recipients, living donors and professionals to engage with one another and share stories, but it celebrates donors who gave the selfless gift of life. At the Transplant Games, recipients are given the chance to show the world that having a transplant is a second chance at a full, productive, and inspiring life as well as display to their donor families what their gift means to them.

We are looking forward to the 2024 Transplant Games to be held in Birmingham, Alabama on July 5 – 10. To Learn more by visiting https://www.transplantgamesofamerica.org

This year Transplant Team AZ will be represented by more than 20 athletes and we will have additional 30 supporters who make the trip to Birmingham to cheer on Team AZ. While in Birmingham, Team AZ will make Embassy Suites our “Team Headquarters” located at 2300 Woodcrest Pl.

Meet Team Arizona’s Athletes

Jovani Perez (front), Kidney Recipient

Evelyn Strope, Heart Transplant Recipient

 

Omar

Ben Bondoc, Liver Recipient

 

Omar

Omar Hashem, Lung Recipient

Omar

Irene Mara, Lung Recipient

Catherine Hawxby & Tila Achuff, Team Cheerleaders

Karen Matulis (left), Donor Family

Gregory Welsh, heart recipient and donor family

Omar

Anna Tolly, Liver Recipient

Ed Ozier, Kidney Recipient

Miela Semenka, (on her dad’s shoulders) Heart Recipient

Jill Bowers, Kidney Recipient

Omar

Lynn Stackrow (left), Lung Recipient

Mark Harris, Kidney Donor

Ramsey Harris, Kidney Recipient

Jen Adams, Double Lung Recipient

Dylan McQueen, Heart Recipient

Allison Stokes (right), Lung Recipient

Jill Bowers, Kidney Recipient

Ben Wilson, Liver Recipient

 

Karen Rosner, Heart Recipient

5 Lung transplant recipients and Team AZ members.

Damon Buckhana, Kidney Recipient

Randy Shepherd (left), Heart Recipient

Randy Oyaski, Tissue Recipient

Andy Bombeck, Kidney Recipient

Carol Inman, Kidney Recipient

Kelly Calhoun, Liver Recipient