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Help me celebrate the gift of life at the World Transplant Games 2025 in Dresden, Germany!

  • WTG Dresden 2025!

      4 September 2025
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    Heya,

    I'm back home now after an amazing games experience. It truly was a week of celebrating the gift of life, underpinned by a common understanding and connection that comes from shared experience.

    We both had a great time; ate lots of ice cream and dessert, Marlies was the unofficial team NZ tram trip planner, we perfected the art of nz flag waving AND ....medal winning! Yes that's right!

    Marlies won 4 silver; 50m free, butterfly, breaststroke and 100m sprint (and 4th in the 5km, so close!)

    I won 2 gold, 1 silver and 1 bronze.; 1st 5km run and sprint triathlon, second 1500m, third long jump (5th 100m freestyle).

    The NZ team one a total of 19 medals (6 gold, 7 silver, 6 bronze).

    Thank you for your support. Your support went towards the cost of registration for the event. Keep the conversations going. Thank you.

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  • Let the games begin!

      19 August 2025
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    After spending 5 wonderful soul filling days with family we have arrived in Dresden!

    Charity run/walk, parade of nations and opening ceremony last night. It was a big day on our feet but it was worth it with a great atmosphere all around. Today the competition started with Marlies and I competing in the 5km run.

    We both had a good run with good times despite a bit of calf roble at the end for Mars. I came away with the gold medal in my age group and I think 2nd female overall for recipients and 3rd female overall out of donors and recipients.

    Live streaming found on official WTG web page, https://wtg2025.com/

    Not all events but definitely swimming and track and field.

    https://wtg2025.com/wtg2025-livestream-daily-video-highlights/

    Rest day tomorrow. Mars has a donor event with a cycle down the Elbe River + food. We are both swimming Wed. Triathlon for me Thursday.

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  • It's go time

      7 August 2025

    Hi everyone, sorry about being missing in action for a while.

    Saturday we are off. I'm nervous excited. I think Marlies is just excited.

    We are both healthy, mostly injury free (me) and ready to roll. I blame the new kidney, I felt so good I did a bit too much 😄.

    The bonus of Mars coming along is that she has set up a polar steps thingy so anyone interested can follow or trip.

    https://www.polarsteps.com/MarliesKoevoet/20405910-world-transplant-games?s=626784e7-3ea0-44ea-ab38-5d4b4782fd47

    Thank you again for all your support. It really does mean so much (and maybe a bit of extra pressure to do well). Lots of love ❤️

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  • Exciting news!

      25 May 2025

    Hey everyone, I'm very excited to say that Marlies will be joining me in Dresden! Whoop! We haven't had a trip together for a while and this will be a very special one indeed.

    I hope you're all happy for me to split the funds raised here with her. I am of course only as well as I am and able to participate in this amazing event because of her selfless gift.

    I am so excited for her to walk into the stadium during the opening ceremony with other donor's and their families and be celebrated for what they have done.

    From me, all is well. Nil issues from a kidney perspective. Training is going well. Each week I am still amazed at how much better I feel, even compared to when I was in my mid to late 20's. Just last week I did a 2hr+ mountain bike and despite feeling tired (as you normally would) I still felt strong and felt I could have kept going. Such a strange but good feeling.

    Thanks to everyone who has donated so far. The money raised will go towards event registration and accommodation for the duration of the event.

    I hope to still meet my/our fundraising target so please spread the word.

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  • Where I'm at about 3.5 months out

      26 April 2025

    Hi, I'll go with bullet points to keep it brief;

    - It's been a whirlwind couple of months, from the decision to go for it end Feb, to booking flights etc and doing something I've never done before, asking for help

    -I am well, Super well!

    -Compared to when I was last seriously training 14yrs ago I can feel the difference in how 'well' I feel. For one thing the absolute and overwhelming fatigue isn't there

    -Training is going well. Trying to do 3 sessions min. of each a week of swim, bike, run

    -My physio knowledge is coming in handy; I'm not as young as I was last time! I've had a few niggles to contend with, even hurting my foot just walking around the house which put me off running for 2 weeks haha

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