Reena Raju a 35-year-old woman from Bengaluru, the first woman recipient of a heart donation had become India’s first woman to take part in a World Transplant Games meet.
She represented India in badminton (mixed doubles) and 100-metre run at the 21st edition of the biannual event that took off at Malaga, Spain
Balveer Singh from Uttar Pradesh and Dharmendra Soti from Lucknow were the two other Indians taking part in the eight-day biennial event organised by the World Transplant Games Federation (WTGF).
Reena has been in the vanguard of efforts to help organ recipients. Light a Life Foundation formed by her has been helping many organ recipients by giving away medicines to them.
She underwent a series of mandatory medical tests to prove her fitness and ability to take part in the WTGF which was required at the entry level.
Dr K M Cherian, the cardiac surgeon from Frontier Lifeline Hospital, who conducted the transplant for Reena, said: “Reena did extremely well after the transplant”.
“While countries like the UK and the US have hundreds of participants, there are only three from India. There’s lack of awareness, encouragement and sponsorships for organ recipients,” rued Reena.
The WTGF has been staging international sporting events and promoting education around transplantation to raise public awareness and increase organ donation.
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