EHLT Games Apeldoorn 2012

EHLT – European Heart & Lung Transplant games

Welcome to The Netherlands!

LOC Apeldoorn 2012 extends a very warm welcome to all heart and lung transplantees from all across Europe and has the greatest of pleasure in inviting you to join us at the 14^th European Heart & Lung Transplant Games 2012 in Apeldoorn,The Netherlands.

Past European Games have demonstrated that, even after radical, life-saving heart or lung transplant surgery, patients can not only regain a normal life, but can also engage in sports. This year, the estimated 300 participants from a possible 28 European countries will be the continuing living proof of this.

Aims of the EHLT Games:

To show that organ donation is crucial in saving lives – without organ donation, not a single participant in this year’s EHLT Games would be alive
To stimulate people to register for organ donation by drawing attention to the fact that there is a current chronic shortage of organs available for transplant
To express deepest and heartfelt gratitude to donors and their families for their gift of life
To give courage to patients who are currently waiting for a transplant by showing them what they could also achieve after surgery, and that the long wait is worthwhile.

From 27 June to 1 July 2012, heart and lung transplantees will compete against each other, and each and every one of them will be a winner.

According to the Olympic adage:
“Taking part is more important than winning”

I am greatly looking forward to welcoming you all – participants, patients waiting for a transplant and their families, relatives of donors, supporters and spectators alike – to the EHLT Games in Apeldoorn in 2012.

Locaal Organisatie Comité (LOC)