A Kaslo woman has returned home after taking part in a unique international event for athletes who have received organ donations.
Colleen Tilley was among seven Canadians who competed in the World Transplant Winter Games, held March 3-6 in Bormio, Italy. The 12th annual games are held to honor organ donors and their families.
Tilley received a liver transplant four years ago. While recovering from surgery in Vancouver, Tilley read an article about the Games that stuck with her.
“I have always been a skier. I have played sports all my life. I thought it would be really cool to try this out. It was for a good cause and exciting for me.”
Games include skiing, snowboarding, cross-country skiing, biathlon, snowshoeing and curling competitions. Bormio is also set to host the 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.
Tilley, 64, won three gold medals and one silver in alpine skiing competitions, or a third of the Canadian team's medal haul. At the request of the team, which was missing a curler, she also competed in curling.
She thanked the Kaslo Curling Club coaches for helping her prepare for the Games. Tilley said she wasn't out of place on Team Canada, which finished fourth in curling.
“The whole thing is participation. And you don’t have to be an expert to take part in the games.”
The results are also secondary to spreading awareness about organ donation. Registering as a donor is a quick process that can save lives, she said.
It saved her when Tilley had surgery just a month after she was told she needed a new liver.
“The most important thing is to create awareness about the existence of transplants, being an organ donor and promoting the need for organ donation.”
But the medals are nice too.
For information on registering as an organ donor in BC, visit transplant.bc.ca/organ-donation.
Colleen Tilley was among the Team Canada athletes who competed in the World Transplant Winter Games in March. Photo: Submitted