Last Thursday (5 December), Transplant Active – formerly known as Transplant Sport – officially launched the 2025 Westfield Health British Transplant Games in Oxford.
Following the hosting of a successful European Transplant Games in 2022, Oxford will welcome the British Transplant Games for the first time next summer.
The launch event, hosted at Blenheim Palace (pictured above) – one of the Games venues – saw the Games organisers, sponsors, partners, donor families and transplant recipients look ahead to the multi-sport event, which will unite the entire transplant community, including 1,000 transplanted athletes.
Transplant Active unveiled its new identity at the launch event, announcing its re-brand from Transplant Sport to better reflect the ambitions of the charity – to empower transplant recipients to optimise their gift of life through an active lifestyle.
Following the success of the 2024 British Transplant Games in Nottingham, the upcoming Oxford Games promise to be even more impactful. Taking place from Thursday 31 July to Sunday 3 August 2025, the event will be hosted in various venues across Oxford.
The Games aim to raise awareness of life-saving benefits of organ transplantation and demonstrate the transformative power of organ donation, encouraging transplant recipients to stay active post-recovery.
Transplanted athletes of all abilities ranging from the age of three to 80 plus, from over 60 hospital teams across the UK, will represent their transplant unit in 24 different events with the support of family, friends, and volunteers.
With the support of key sponsors and regional partners, the Games will engage families and communities in Oxford and the surrounding areas to spark vital conversations around organ donation. By encouraging individuals to share their decisions with loved ones, the Games celebrates the gift of life and strengthens the transplant community.
Dr Paul Harden, Chair of Transplant Active and the 2025 British Transplant Games, said: "It is an honour to chair this year’s British Transplant Games alongside my role as Chair of Transplant Active. Our new identity marks a significant step forward for the transplant community and reflects the charity’s ambition to empower transplant recipients to optimise their gift of life through an active lifestyle and raise awareness about the transformative power of organ donation.
“We warmly invite businesses, families, and the local community to support the Games in Oxford, and I would like to thank the Oxford Kidney Unit Trust Fund for their generous support of the Games. Together, we can celebrate the inspiring achievements of transplanted athletes and honour the gift of life through promoting the critical importance of organ donation."
The British Transplant Games are being staged with the continued support of Westfield Health, Kidney Care UK, NHSBT, Anthony Nolan, the Donor Family Network, Icon Creative, Sanofi, Extra Motorway Services Ltd, B. Braun Medical Ltd, the Children’s Liver Disease Foundation, British Liver Trust, Global Kidney Foundation, Scholars School System and Fresenius Medical Care.
As well as sponsoring the event, Kidney Care UK make it possible for over half of the teams to attend by providing valuable financial support. Local partners sponsoring the Games this year include the Oxford Kidney Unit Trust and Blenheim Palace.
Steve Purdham, Chairman Westfield Health, said: “We’re proud to offer our continued support for the British Transplant Games, with 2025 marking our 17th year of being the lead sponsor. The Games are a truly inspiring event that highlights the importance of organ donation while celebrating the resilience and determination of people who have received transplants.
“We look forward to bringing together the whole British transplant community in Oxford for the first time next year, to celebrate the gift of life and witness firsthand the extraordinary impact of the Games.”
For more information on the Westfield Health British Transplant Games and how you can get involved, visit the Games' website.
FInd out more on the 2025 Westfield Health British Transport Games
