AT 72, top athlete Heather Edgell has broken a world record and won more than 100 medals for her sporting achievements.
That’s impressive stuff. But what’s more amazing is that the septuagenarian mum-of-two from Caringbah, NSW, was one of the first kidney transplant recipients in Australia.
Heather had a kidney transplant in 1979 when she was in her 30s. This month she will compete in her 15th Australian Transplant Games to raise awareness for tissue and organ donation.
“I remember getting a call from someone in 1987 asking me if I wanted to go to Austria to compete in the World Transplant Games,” said Heather, who is known affectionately as ‘The Queen of the Games’.
“I told them I didn’t do any sport and the person said just pick one and train for it. So I chose swimming and did quite well.”
However, it wasn’t until she represented Australia in the World Transplant Games in Vancouver in 1993 that she struck gold.
“I’d always been the bridesmaid but never the bride. So I trained every morning in the pool and took home gold in my three races.”
Heather has competed in every World and National Transplant Games since 1987 and is looking forward to competing in Penrith this month.
“Before I had my kidney transplant I was sick and listless and had no energy. Now I swim, doing the 50-metre backstroke, breaststroke and freestyle, and will be representing NSW in ten-pin bowling and petanque in the Australian Games this September.
“And who knows, I might do the relay as well.”
Heather, who only retired from her job as an administration officer at Royal PrinceAlfredHospital in Sydney two years ago, has been training three times a week in the pool and practices ten-pin bowling every Thursday night.
“If you really put your mind to it, you can do anything.”
Heather is keen to encourage other transplant recipients to live healthy, active lives.
Not long after her own operation, she rode 200km to raise awareness about organ donation. “I rode a pushbike from Launceston to Hobart. That’s something I thought I’d never do – and is one of the highlights since having a transplant.”
The other main message of the Transplant Games is encouraging Australians to register as organ and tissue donors.
“I always say I’m one of the lucky ones. I never, ever forget and every day I give thanks to my donor.
“For 37 years I’ve helped. I think I’ve helped a lot of people.”
The Australian Transplant Games are held every two years. This year’s major sponsors are the Organ and Tissue Authority and NSW Health.
