Hugo travels to Transplant Games 26.08.08

Story: Inishowen Independent CLONMANY man Hugo Boyce, who last year landed a Gold medal in a thrilling Petanque final at the World Transplant Games, is to return to the international stage again this week. Boyce fought cancer in his teenage years and received a new kidney transplant 20 years ago, made the headlines last year with his dramatic win in Bangkok. The Clonmany man is now getting ready to the travel to the fifth European Transplant and Dialysis Games in Wurzburg, Germany, from 31 August to 5 September. “Last year in Bangkok was brilliant. I beat an Israeli opponent in the final of the Petanque, and there was great excitement. Just a few hours earlier, Bridie Nicholson from Sligo had won Ireland’s first-ever gold medal in Petanque, and I followed up with my win,” said Hugo. “It was certainly a great day for me, and one I will never forget.”

Petanque, which is akin to French boules, is not on the programme for next week’s European Games, but Hugo is still looking forward to taking part in a number of events, including golf and ten pin bowling. “I got non-Hodgkinsons lymphoma when I was 19 and I was in St Luke’s hospital from 1969 until 1971,” he said. “The doctors believe the radium treatment I was given led to the deterioration of my kidneys and I received a transplant in 1988. I was on dialysis for three and a half years before the transplant. “It was a tough time but there are people who did not make it and I am very thankful to have been given the chance. I am enjoying great health since. I’ve been playing a good bit of golf, and also getting in some bowling practice, in preparation for the competition,” he said. The Donegal man – who is director of the Clonmany festival – also won a gold medal for golf at the World Games in Canada 2005 but believes the main priority is taking part and promoting organ donation awareness. “People say they would like to donate organs but they don’t carry the organ donor cards so it is important to keep

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