CHARLESTON, SC – LifePoint and Donate Life South Carolina will send members of Team SC on Friday, June 10th to the 2016 Donate Life Transplant Games of America (TGA) in Cleveland, OH. Every two years, the TGA brings together recipients, living donors, donor families and health professionals to celebrate the success of transplantation; honor the lasting legacy of donors; provide hope to those who continue to wait; and promote donor registration. The TGA is a multi-sport festival event that celebrates organ, eye, and tissue donation. It will last six days from June 10-15, 2016 and will highlight the critical importance of organ, eye, and tissue donation, while celebrating the lives of donors and recipients.

Team SC is made up of transplant recipients and living donors who are the competitors as well as donor family members, staff and others who are the supporters. Comprised of 23 competitors and a total of 95 South Carolinians, Team SC will be going to Cleveland in June for the six day summer event.

The Pee Dee and Grand Strand area team members include:

FLORENCE

1.) Michael, a 23 year old kidney recipient from Florence. He participated in the 2014 Games in Houston, TX where he won a total of four medals: Gold in Darts and Shot Put, Silver in Discus and Bronze in Doubles Bowling. He will be participating in Track and Field, Darts and Bowling at these Games.

2.) Lisa, a liver recipient from Florence. This will be her first trip to the Transplant Games. She will be participating in Cornhole, Darts and Doubles Bowling at these Games

CHERAW

1.) Taylor, a 15 year old kidney recipient from Cheraw. This will be his first trip to the Transplant Games and he will be accompanied by his family to Cleveland. He will be participating in the 5K, Swimming, Track & Field, Double Bowling and Darts.

GRAND STRAND

1.) Dennis, a 70 year old liver recipient from Murrells Inlet. Dennis has previously attended the 2008, 2010 and 2014 Games and has won numerous medals during the years in both Dance and Golf. His wife, Eva, has been and will be his partner in Dance events. He will be participating in Ballroom Dancing, Table Tennis, Golf and Darts at these Games.

Team SC is made up of transplant recipients and living donors who are the competitors as well as donor family members, staff and others who are the supporters. The TGA is expected to draw more than 6,000 participants of all ages from all 50 states and several countries to demonstrate how lives have been changed through the gift of life.

There are currently more than 120,000 individuals on the national waiting list for an organ transplant. In South Carolina, almost 1,000 people are on the waiting list. More than 28,000 lives are saved each year in the U.S. through organ donation. A new person is added to the waiting list every 10 minutes. Sadly, 22 people will die every day waiting because the organ they needed was not donated in time.

The TGA is expected to draw more than 6,000 participants of all ages from all 50 states and several countries to demonstrate how lives have been changed through the gift of life. Competitors from these teams will participate in a variety of sporting and non-sporting competitive events. Medaling events include a 5K Run (open to the public), badminton, basketball, ballroom dancing, bocce ball, bowling, cornhole, cycling, golf, poker, racquetball, singing, swimming, table tennis, tennis, track-and-field, trivia, and volleyball.

For more information about the Donate Life Transplant Games of America, and/or to set up an interview with a Team SC member in your area, contact Mark Johnson, Media Relations Coordinator for Donate Life South Carolina and LifePoint at 843-763-7755.