NEW YORK—The National Kidney Foundation (NKF) has suspended the 2012 U.S. Transplant Games.
"For 20 years the NKF U.S. Transplant Games have educated the public about the life-saving power of organ donation and dramatically demonstrated that those with transplants can and do lead normal and active lives,” NKF CEO John Davis said in a news release. “But the Games represent a multi-million dollar expense for the foundation that also requires a significant commitment of staff resources.
"Now, when most Americans view transplantation as almost routine surgery that restores life, we will re-examine the format and financial structure of the Games, to achieve maximum impact and to ensure sustainability going forward,” he continued. “As always, we will work with a range of constituents and supporters to accomplish this."
Since 1990, the biennial Olympic-style event has served to showcase the success of transplantation, promote health and fitness for transplant recipients and recognize and honor donor families and living donors.
"We want to thank the thousands of transplant athletes, living donors, donor families, medical professionals, supportive family members and volunteers who have worked so hard to make the NKF U.S. Transplant Games so successful over the years," said NKF Senior Vice President for Programs Gigi Politoski."Special thanks to the dozens of corporate sponsors for their support of the Games and our athletes. We could not have conducted the U.S. Transplant Games for 20 years without their generosity and enthusiasm and look forward to their continuing participation and partnership as we explore ways to restructure the Games."
The NKF said it will continue to direct its resources to helping ensure that every American who needs a transplant receives one. NKF's END THE WAIT! initiative offers a comprehensive action plan to address the shortage of available kidneys for transplant and to end the wait for those on the list by instituting best practices across the country and eliminating barriers to organ donation.In addition, the NKF will continue to offer print and on-line publications and other resources for transplant recipients, donor families and living donors.
