What We Found at the Transplant Games of America 2026: Community, Courage, and a Lot of Trivia

 

 This past weekend, the American Transplant Foundation had the opportunity to be a part of the Transplant Games of America 2026. Hosted in our home city of Denver, Colorado, we had a fantastic time interacting with all members of the transplant community across the nation. This year’s Games was particularly significant, as a new Guinness World Record was set for the largest gathering of living donors and organ recipients in one place at the same time, with 966 individuals verified on site. Being a part of this monumental occasion reminds us of why this work matters. Even more exciting, our very own Andrew Menard, who is the team captain of the Rocky Mountain team, was awarded with Male Athlete of the Year at the Transplant Games of America!

  

Between the hustle and bustle of the games, we had meaningful conversations with transplant recipients, living donors, families, and supporters about their transplant journey. Not only were we able to spread the word about the ATF’s core programs and how they support people at every stage of the transplant journey, but we also reached new audiences across the country and showcased ways for them to connect with our organization. The energy at the Games is contagious, and our booth became a small hub of conversation, laughter, and camaraderie all weekend long.

 

Throughout the weekend, what stuck with us most were the stories. We heard from a recipient who’s now competing in the same sport that kept her going through years of dialysis. We talked to a donor who gave a portion of her liver to a stranger and ended up gaining a whole new extended family in the process. Another patient spoke to us about her journey with corneal transplants. Every conversation was a reminder that we work for these people with real stories. Behind every statistic, behind every program, and behind every fundraiser, there are countless people with journeys. Hearing them firsthand is a gift we don’t take for granted.  

 

We also brought a little friendly competition into the mix with a round of transplant trivia, and it turned out to be a great way to break the ice and get people engaged. Participants and family members tested their knowledge on everything from organ donation facts to American Transplant Foundation history, and it sparked some genuinely fun back-and-forth conversations.  A few “wait, I didn’t know that!” moments that are exactly the kind of awareness-building we hope for.

 

 

If there’s one thing we’re taking home from the Games, it’s this: this community shows up for each other in ways that is hard to put into words. Being there, listening to stories, playing trivia, and putting faces to the programs we build every day grounded our work in a way that’s hard to replicate anywhere else. We’re already looking forward to the next Games, and to continuing to show up for this community in every way we can.