E-Newsletter
January, 2020


Transplant Games News!

2020 TGA Registration is Open!

Registration for the 2020 Donate Life Transplant Games is now open! Registration has been open for one week and is off to a great start. The registration system is set up slightly different than in past years, but the change seems to be working well, with positive feedback at an all-time high. Games registration is in the Early Registration Period, which runs until March 1, 2020. Prices will increase a bit on March 2, 2020 at the start of the Regular Registration Period, so sign up early and save some money! 
TGA Flag Tour Program

The 2020 Donate Life Transplant Games flag is in the process of being created. The flag will start making its way around the country the week of February 18, 2020. The Transplant Games Flag Tour, leading up to the 2020 Donate Life Transplant Games in Northern New Jersey July 17-22, is similar to the Olympic torch being carried from venue to venue prior to the official games. Team managers will receive an email to sign up for their team’s flag tour dates. Be sure to check with your team manager to find out when the flag is coming to your city!
Competition Information

Leading up to the Transplant Games in July 2020, we will be featuring one to two sports in the newsletter. Our goal will be to highlight important rules, provide updates on any changes to the format, as well as increase interest in the competition. When registering for the Games, be sure to review each of the sports you will be participating in for final decisions on competition rules.

Virtual Triathlon and Texas Hold'em Poker

Virtual Triathlon:
The Virtual Triathlon event has been gaining in popularity with each set of Games. Unlike a typical triathlon event where all the sporting legs are completed on the same day, the TGA Virtual Triathlon is completed over the course of three days. Each leg is completed on the day of that specific competition. For example, the 500 yard freestyle swim event (leg one) at the swimming competition, the 20km cycling event (leg two) at the cycling competition and the 1500m event (leg three) at the track and field competition. Competitors must complete these three events at the competition days of Swimming, Cycling and Track and Field to be medal eligible for the Virtual Triathlon. Below are the competition days for these three events:

Swimming (leg one): July 18, 2020, from 8:00am to 1:00pm.
Cycling (leg two): July 19, 2020, from 8:00am to 2:00pm.
Track and Field (leg three): July 20, 2020, from 8:00am to 6:00pm. 



Texas Hold'em:
The Texas Hold’em poker event will be held on Sunday, July 19, 2020, at American Dream for all to see! The event is open to competitors 18 or older. There are no major competition rule changes, however, be aware that participation is expected to be high for the 2020 Games for all competitions, so some sports may have participation caps. Poker may be one of those sports. Keep in mind that medals for the poker competition will only be awarded to first, second and third place winners in both the male and female age categories. 

To find out more about all the competitions please visit:
Transplant Games App

The Transplant Games of America has officially released its TGA App! You can download the app for free by searching “Transplant Games of America” in the Apple App Store for iPhones or the Google Play Store for Android phones. The app will be a useful resource leading up to the 2020 Games, during the Games and even after the Games. Be sure to check it out and download it now!
Youth Pin Design Contest

Calling all youths! The Transplant Life Foundation is holding a contest to design a lapel pin celebrating donation and transplantation. The winning design will be used to create a limited number of actual pins that will be passed out at the 2020 Donate Life Transplant Games in New Jersey, July 17-22. Pin designers must be 13 years or younger to participate. All submissions must be received by April 15, 2020. See below to view all the rules and where to submit your entry. 


TLF Travel Grant Program Update

Thanks to a very successful campaign with United Airlines, the Transplant Life Foundation’s Travel Grant Program for the 2020 Transplant Games will award United mileage points, earned through the campaign, to those who qualify. Due to the limited number of awards available, there will be an application process. We are still working through the details of the program with United. As soon as we have more information, we will send out a special announcement on how attendees going to the Games can apply. Winners will be selected by a TGA Awards Committee in the month of March.  Stay tuned for more details. 
Honor the Gift Campaign Update

Did you know that Medicare covers the cost of dialysis and a kidney transplant, but cuts off a patient’s anti-rejection medication coverage just three years after they get their transplant? We are working with Honor the Gift to change that – but we need your help! Ask your members of Congress to stand with kidney transplant patients and #HonorTheGift of kidney donation today –Support H.R. 5534 and extend Medicare’s coverage of immunosuppressive medications for kidney transplant patients! ACT NOW! https://honorthegift.org/act/

Passages

TransplantNATION magazine’s Passages page pays tribute to many milestones reached by individuals in our community. We intend to share news of births, marriages, anniversaries, transplant anniversaries, deaths, and any other significant announcements that celebrate the gift of life or acknowledge the support an individual(s) has given to the organ, eye and tissue donation and transplantation world.

If you have a tribute you would like to share in an upcoming Passages page, please send your information (35-75 words or less) to Josh Sweedyk at 

Transplant Life Foundation and Transplant Games of America would like to thank you for your support of our mission. The work that we do to educate the public and bring awareness about donation and transplantation would not be possible without your help and commitment.