Transplant Team Arizona
Transplant Team Arizona (TTA) is a team made up of athletes who are organ recipients, living donors and donor families who represent Arizona at the Transplant Games of America and World Games. The team honors their gift of life through friendly competitions, and developing bonds and camaraderie with other organ recipients and families who have shared similar journeys.
The Team also encourages recipients to actively become involved with their own healthcare, through education, information, support, and other resources. TTA provides opportunities for training and developing skills for certain competitions at the Games. As a member of TTA, you have access to fundraising to help cover expenses associated with traveling to and participating in the Games.
TTA actively promotes organ and tissue donation by continually demonstrating the success of organ donation and tranplantation! We are always looking for participants to join our Team!
Transplant Games of America
Every two years the Transplant Games of America gathers together thousands of transplant recipients, living donors, donor families, individuals on the waiting list, caregivers, transplant professionals, supporters and spectators for the world’s largest celebration of life. During this truly unique and inspiring week, 40 state teams and several international teams compete in 50 athletic and recreational competitions. In addition to these medaling events, there are more 60 special events held throughout the Games meant for all attendees to enjoy. These events not only serve as an opportunity for donor families, recipients, living donors and professionals to engage with one another and share stories, but it celebrates donors who gave the selfless gift of life. At the Transplant Games, recipients are given the chance to show the world that having a transplant is a second chance at a full, productive, and inspiring life as well as display to their donor families what their gift means to them.
We are looking forward to the 2024 Transplant Games to be held in Birmingham, Alabama on July 5 – 10. To Learn more by visiting https://www.transplantgamesofamerica.org
This year Transplant Team AZ will be represented by more than 20 athletes and we will have additional 30 supporters who make the trip to Birmingham to cheer on Team AZ. While in Birmingham, Team AZ will make Embassy Suites our “Team Headquarters” located at 2300 Woodcrest Pl.
Meet Team Arizona’s Athletes
Jovani Perez (front), Kidney Recipient
Evelyn Strope, Heart Transplant Recipient
Ben Bondoc, Liver Recipient
Omar Hashem, Lung Recipient
Irene Mara, Lung Recipient
Catherine Hawxby & Tila Achuff, Team Cheerleaders
Karen Matulis (left), Donor Family
Gregory Welsh, heart recipient and donor family
Anna Tolly, Liver Recipient
Ed Ozier, Kidney Recipient
Miela Semenka, (on her dad’s shoulders) Heart Recipient
Jill Bowers, Kidney Recipient
Lynn Stackrow (left), Lung Recipient
Mark Harris, Kidney Donor
Ramsey Harris, Kidney Recipient
Jen Adams, Double Lung Recipient
Dylan McQueen, Heart Recipient
Allison Stokes (right), Lung Recipient
Jill Bowers, Kidney Recipient
Ben Wilson, Liver Recipient
Karen Rosner, Heart Recipient
5 Lung transplant recipients and Team AZ members.
Damon Buckhana, Kidney Recipient
Randy Shepherd (left), Heart Recipient
Randy Oyaski, Tissue Recipient
Andy Bombeck, Kidney Recipient
Carol Inman, Kidney Recipient
Kelly Calhoun, Liver Recipient