The World Transplant Games, which took place from 17 to 23 August this year, celebrate a second chance of life, demonstrating the success of transplant surgery and promoting the need to raise public awareness of organ and tissue donation. Pragma employee and one of the participants, Jeandre Geldenhuys, brought home five medals.
Geldenhuys struck gold when he set a world record of 31.08 seconds in the men’s 50m backstroke and secured another four medals, including silver and three bronze. Says Geldenhuys: “I was over the moon when I set the new world record. I thoroughly enjoyed the competition and made many new friends. It was a dream come true.”
Team SA finished in fifth place at the event with a total of 22 gold, 23 silver and 22 bronze medals. “We’re ecstatic, bearing in mind that our team comprised of only 57 competitors against some really big teams,” he says.
Geldenhuys started swimming at a young age and received his Boland colours. He adds: “I was diagnosed with a kidney disorder in 2013 and had a kidney transplant in 2016. I needed a donor and believe it or not; my wife was a 100% match. Getting a second chance at life made me aware of what I can do as a person and how I can help others.”
Geldenhuys urges everyone to become an organ donor. He concludes: “You can be a superhero to someone else. By becoming an organ donor, you can save seven people’s lives. You can be the one to give someone else a second chance at life. Make a difference by registering today! It’s worth it!”
Geldenhuys works as a Lead UX / UI Designer at Pragma.
Register as an organ donor at https://www.odf.org.za/organ-donor-registration.
