By Bob Sutton
Special to The Alamance News
Burlington resident Mark Slade’s passion for the Transplant Games of America is as healthy as ever and he’s helping organize a fundraiser connected to that.
To support North Carolina Transplant Athletes (or “Team NC” as it’s called), a pickleball tournament is scheduled to begin at 9:00 a.m. April 25 at Burlington City Park’s pickleball facility.
It has been 15-plus years since Slade, 64, became a transplant recipient.
“There’s life after a transplant that can be fun,” Slade said.
He received a donated heart in the fall of 2010. At the time, he learned about the Transplant Games and he has embraced those events, which are held every-other year. In June, he’ll go to Denver for the next edition.
“You meet a lot of people like yourself,” he said. “It’s something that I’m passionate about. . . We try to get people from North Carolina who’ve never been.”
This will be Slade’s eighth time going to the Transplant Games. This year, he’ll participate in shot put, discus, table tennis, pickleball, basketball, and volleyball.
Slade said the North Carolina team has about 25 members and that it’s a growing group. He’s the only Alamance County transplant recipient involved in the Transplant Games.
“We really promote donation,” he said. “I know what it has done for me and my family, a life-changing gift. We’re trying to get the word out.”
Slade, a Williams alum, is retired from working in watershed enforcement for the City of Greensboro.
Slade said the Transplant Games attract thousands of people representing every state plus other countries. This year, those competitions and reunions are slated for June 18-23.
This month’s pickleball tournament in Burlington is open to everyone, with Slade hoping for a big turnout of participants to assist in funding Team NC’s efforts. He said more than a dozen people had signed up as of early April. Entry fee is $25 for singles and $50 for doubles. To register, visit paddlesforlife.nctalife.org
