Michelle Reinhardt with Kilkenny Hurler, Michael Fennelly

Clones Woman for World Transplant Games

A local Clones woman is travelling to Malaga to take part in the World Transplant Games, representing Ireland and County Monaghan. Mother of two, Michelle Reinhardt received a kidney transplant in 2013, after years of dialysis. The transplant transformed her life, “I had lost interest in a lot of things, after the transplant I got my life back”, Michelle explains.

Her inclusion on the Irish team, co-ordinated through the Irish Kidney Association, is thanks to her athletics coach, Paul O'Neill who saw her potential. According to Michelle he had a plan for her from the start, “he made the call to the Irish Kidney Association unbeknownst to me and he got the ball rolling”, Michelle then went along with his plan and started her intense training from the beginning of the year.
Michelle had always had an interest in athletics since she was a young girl and following her transplant she decided to try athletics again. Her children also participate in athletics at their local club giving Michelle the inspiration she needed to get back into the sport.
The intense training is already proving beneficial, “Definitely since I started the strength and conditioning it has helped with my endurance,” Michelle commented.
Michelle is part of a 21 person team competing in Malaga between June 25 and July 2. She competes in the 100m, 200m, four x 100m relays and long Jump. Almost 1000 competitors have registered to take part in this years Games with a diverse crowd of both men and women ranging from ages 30 to 79.