Noel Marsden received a kidney transplant in 2017. He resides in Athlone, Co Westmeath, and is the proud dad of daughter Ava.

Noel will be competing at this year’s World Transplant Games in the 30-39 years age category in the following events:

• Petanque Doubles (Partnering with Jerome Lyness)
• Swimming – 100m Freestyle
• Swimming – Backstroke 50m
• Swimming – Breaststroke 100m
• Badminton Doubles (Partnering with Tommy Marrett)

Noel has previously participated in the European Transplant and Dialysis Sports Championships in Finland 2016, and the British Games in 2017 whilst still on dialysis. This will be his first World Transplant Games.

Noel enjoys most sports especially swimming, rugby and soccer, and is a big Connaught and Aston Villa fan.

He says, “I am excited to be attending my first games since my transplant, and hoping to do my kidney donor proud. I’m motivated to prove organ donation works by beating my own swimming PBs and to encourage more people to join Transplant Team Ireland in Dublin next year for the European games.”