Of their landmark debut on the World Transplant Video games 2025, Group UAE earned their first-ever medal – bronze within the Pétanque Pairs occasion – marking a proud milestone for the nation’s transplant neighborhood.
Katie Larkins and Husena Beguwala clinched the bronze, demonstrating not solely their talent on the sector but in addition the unimaginable resilience and coronary heart behind their journeys.
Katie Larkins, group captain of the UAE group for World Transplant Video games, is an American instructor primarily based in Abu Dhab, Katie was recognized in 2021 with a extreme autoimmune liver illness and required an pressing transplant. Her life was saved by way of the first organ trade between the UAE and Kuwait, made potential by an nameless donor and a fast-acting medical group.
Katie returned to the classroom and has spent the final 14 months working tirelessly to deliver a UAE group to the Video games.
Katie mentioned:
“I really feel actually emotional about this – I’ve spent the final 14 months serving to deliver the UAE group to the World Transplant Federation, so to be a part of the pair that earned the primary UAE medal is actually particular. I’m past grateful to be right here and to share this second with such an inspiring group.”
She hopes to make use of this platform to advertise organ donation, have fun the UAE’s transplant developments, and launch a school-based marketing campaign highlighting wholesome dwelling and transplant consciousness.
Teaming up with Katie within the Pétanque Pairs occasion was Husena Beguwala, a double lung transplant recipient and completed movie producer. Misdiagnosed with bronchial asthma for 12 years, Husena was later discovered to have Idiopathic Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH) – a uncommon and life-threatening situation. After years of challenges and no native transplant possibility, she lastly acquired a life-saving transplant within the UAE.
Immediately, Husena is again on her toes, coaching, competing, and advocating for PH consciousness, psychological well being help, and the life-changing energy of organ donation.
Husena mentioned:
“I selected pétanque as a result of once I received recognized with Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension, one of many largest issues that irked me was that I wasn’t in a position to be with my son and be an energetic mom. Put up-transplant, my first worldwide journey was to Denmark, and once I noticed different households out within the park having fun with themselves and taking part in pétanque as a household, it struck me as one thing I aspired to do with my household – to stay care-free like they had been. Immediately’s bronze medal is overwhelming as a result of we’re right here not only for elevating consciousness, however for the individuals ready for his or her transplants.”
Representing the UAE for the primary time on this world stage, the athletes are competing beneath the banner of Hayat, the Nationwide Programme for Organ and Tissue Donation and Transplantation. Their participation follows the UAE’s 2024 membership within the World Transplant Video games Federation (WTGF) – a world platform that celebrates life after transplant by way of sport, solidarity, and consciousness.
Group UAE Athletes:
- Katie Larkins – Liver transplant recipient, Group Captain & Supervisor
- Hind Juma – Dwelling kidney donor
- Omar “OT” Tom – Kidney transplant recipient
- Fatima Rashid – Kidney transplant recipient
- Justin Anthony – Double lung transplant recipient
- Husena Beguwala – Double lung transplant recipient
Occasions up subsequent:
Friday, August 22
3km Race Stroll – Katie, Hind, Husena
100m Sprints – Omar, Fatima
Javelin – Fatima, Justin
Saturday, August 23
200m Sprints – Omar, Fatima
Discus – Justin
Ball Throw – Justin
Comply with Group UAE’s journey stay and present your help on social media: @UAEtransplantathletes