Aedan’s inspirational journey to compete in the British Transplant Games

An inspirational three-year-old boy from Castletown in the island has been selected to represent Alder Hey Kidney Transplant Team in the British Transplant Games, taking place from August 1-4, 2024 in Nottingham. 

Aedan Klieve was born with severe kidney disease and has been on medication and dialysis at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital his entire life. Aeden, mum Shirley and dad Paul were regular travellers on the ferry as they spent almost two years travelling by ferry on a Friday night and Saturday afternoon for Aedan to receive his Saturday morning dialysis.

Last year, Aedan received a life saving kidney transplant just in time for his third birthday, and since then has gone from strength to strength and is celebrating walking and walking away from dialysis.

Aedan is raising money for the Alder Hey Kidney Transplant Team he is representing and is due to compete in a number of events in the Games including the obstacle course, ball throw, sports stacking, archery and 25m run.

Aeden’s mum, Shirley, said attending the Games will be emotional. “The Games are attended by people who have been through donation, and also the families of people who have given transplant. The Games give people the opportunity to promote organ donation and bring everyone together.” 

Taking place in different host cities every summer, the British Transplant Games see teams from hospitals across the UK come together to compete in a medley of sports. The four-day event attracts around 1,000 transplant athletes and more than 1,700 supporters. The Games are organised on behalf of Transplant Sport whose aim is to raise awareness of the need for organ donation, encourage transplant recipients to lead active lifestyles and show appreciation for, and remember their donors and their families.

The Isle of Man Steam Packet Company is honoured to support Aedan and his family with travel to and from the island to attend the Games, as part of our Manx Community Assistance (MCA) scheme. 

The aim of the MCA scheme is to provide assistance to individuals, organisations, good causes and charities, whose aim is to improve the quality of life of island residents. We offer travel assistance to events, groups and organisations travelling to and from the Isle of Man for sporting, educational and cultural activities, as well as support for the transportation of necessary equipment. We also support island fundraising events such as raffles. 

To find out more about the Manx Community Assistance schemes and to make an application click here.

Donate to Aedan’s fundraising efforts on his Just Giving page. 
Register to be an organ donor here.