Tenby’s Adam Hughes has been called up to the Wales squad that is taking part in the inaugural Transplant Football World Cup in Cervia, Italy this month.
Having previously represented Team GB at the World Transplant Games, Adam will now get to compete for Wales after an agreement was reached for the home nations to enter and seek qualification as independent nations.
Teams joining hosts Italy are European football heavyweights France, Spain, Germany and England, as well as many other nations from around the world, including the USA, Chile and Australia.
All players taking part have received various different organ transplants and the event kicks off on Sunday, September 8, and can be followed online by searching ‘Transplant Football World Cup’, with games broadcast live on YouTube.
To commemorate this important milestone Adam is undertaking numerous challenges over the coming year to fundraise for Kidney Wales Foundation and the Wales Transplant Football Team. (Pic supplied)
The team was presented with their shirts by former Wales international and FAW representative Danny Gabbidon at a launch event last month.
Adam said: “At 36 and having had a kidney transplant for nearly 10 years, you sort of think the chance to pull on an official Wales shirt and compete at a World Cup is gone, but to have this opportunity is incredible and a testament to the power of organ donation to which we all owe our lives.
“This is so much more than a football team, with our shared experience of illness and organ donation creating a camaraderie and bond that will always outstrip anything we could ever do on a pitch.
“But with that being said we are going there to win!”
October 2024 will see Adam commemorating 10 years since he received the ‘gift of life’ of a kidney transplant, and during this time he has always retained his passion for sport and has kept active in football and running, having previously been the manager of the Carew team that secured promotion back to Division One of the Pembrokeshire League during his time on dialysis pre-transplant.
To commemorate this important milestone Adam is undertaking numerous challenges over the coming year to fundraise for Kidney Wales Foundation and the Wales Transplant Football Team.
He has already completed the Wales Three Peaks Challenge, Ben Nevis and several 10k races, but is now looking ahead to the Cardiff Half Marathon in October, followed in 2025 by the Houston Marathon in January, The London Marathon in April and culminating with the Wales Marathon in Tenby as part of the Long Course Weekend.
Adam is delighted to be able to undertake all these fundraising events, which would only be possible through organ donation, and is hoping to raise as much money as possible to help others who are going through illness and are awaiting/have received transplants to be able to stay active and maintain their physical and mental health. (Pic supplied)
Adam is delighted to be able to undertake all these events, which would only be possible through organ donation, and is hoping to raise as much money as possible to help others.
To support Adam, please go to www.justgiving.com and search ‘Adam Transplant Anniversary’
