Next week the 10th European Heart and Lung Transplant Games will be held in Dublin.
Terry Mangan, chairman of the Irish Heart And Lung Transplant Association, will be one of the 45 Irish participants.
He received a heart transplant in 1996 at the age of 58 after suddenly developing viral cardio-myopathy, a disease which affects the heart muscle.
The games, being held from June 23rd to June 27th, have a double theme of saving life and celebrating life. People are being encouraged to carry donor cards and to discuss this choice with their families.
"The whole reason for the games is to raise donor awareness, increase organ donation by doing that and then, by increasing organ donation, you increase the life-saving transplant experience."
About 1.25 million people worldwide have received organ transplants.
"While it is a life-saving procedure, it also restores the recipients to full, active life. Children return to school, adults return to work."
Almost 300 other organ recipients will take part in athletics, cycling, swimming, tennis, volleyball, badminton, table tennis and golf events across six age categories.
The youngest Irish participants are aged 11 and 12. A 78-year-old from Israel will be the oldest entrant. There are also participants from 16 other European countries.
"The competition in some areas is extremely intense. People are competing because, following their transplants, they can. It is a way also of saying 'thank you' to their donors and showing respect for the wonderful gift they have been given."
Mangan says the hosting of the Special Olympics last year made the hosting of these games possible because of the availability of the National Aquatic Centre.
He also found that many Special Olympics volunteers were willing to help run the events.
Events will also be held at Morton Stadium, the David Lloyd Tennis Centre and Edmondstown Golf Club.
He says being a transplant recipient has been a life-changing experience.
"There is a physical, spiritual and emotional rollercoaster experience that we go through leading up to and across the transplantation
"You realise that another family has to grieve in order for you to live. It is something that nobody every forgets."
Donor cards are available in chemists and doctors' surgeries, and through the Irish Kidney Association at www.ika.ie