Press release -
West Midlands Railway awarded special recognition for supporting this year’s British Transplant Games.
West Midlands Railway has been awarded a special recognition for supporting this year’s British Transplant Games.
The train operator provided free travel for over 2,500 competitors and other visitors during the event, which took place at venues across Birmingham from Thursday 2 until Sunday 5 August.
The award was presented by The Lord Mayors Deputy, Honorary Alderman Mrs Anne Underwood, at a special celebration in Birmingham on Wednesday 14 November.
The games helped to raise the profile of the ongoing need for donors to join the Organ Donation Register, with over 76,000 additional sign ups following this year’s event. The 2018 British Transplant Games also contributed £1.8 m to the West Midlands region.
Brenda Lawrence, head of stations for West Midlands Railway said, “It’s been an honour to be able support this year’s games, as we continue in our commitment to making our services accessible and inclusive for all our customers.
“Along with providing travel facilities, we were also able to join donor families and recipients in the Donor Run, which took place around the University of Birmingham campus. It’s been fitting to celebrate the achievements of all involved in putting together a successful and inspirational games with the presentation of awards at Birmingham’s Council House.”
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For further information on this release, call our press office on 03300 955150 or email press.office@wmtrains.co.uk
About West Midlands Trains
West Midlands Trains operates both West Midlands Railway and London Northwestern Railway services.
- London Northwestern Railway services operate between Liverpool and Birmingham, and on the West Coast mainline to and from London Euston.
- West Midlands Railway services operate to destinations across the West Midlands via Birmingham New Street.
For more information on these services visit westmidlandsrailway.co.uk or londonnorthwesternrailway.co.uk
The West Midlands Trains franchise started on 10 December 2017 and will run until 2025/26.
West Midlands Trains operates 1,300 services a day, manages 150 stations and provides over 70 million passenger journeys a year. Over the course of the franchise, West Midlands Trains will be investing £1 billion into the rail network to deliver new trains, improved routes and station upgrades. This will include 400 new train carriages across the network and space for an extra 85,000 passengers into Birmingham and London at peak times.
The franchise is a joint venture between Abellio (70.1% share) and East Japan Railway Company / Mitsui & Co., Ltd (29.9% share in a 50:50 split). Abellio is the international passenger transport subsidiary of the Dutch national railway company, Nederlandse Spoorwegen. In the UK, Abelllio operates ScotRail and Greater Anglia train services, Merseyrail services in a joint venture with Serco and buses through Abellio London. For more information visit www.abellio.com
About the Westfield Health British Transplant Games
The Westfield Health British Transplant Games aim to demonstrate the benefits of transplantation, encouraging transplant patients to regain fitness, whilst increasing public awareness of the need for more people to sign the NHS Organ Donation Register, Anthony Nolan Register and discuss their wishes with their families.
Over 7,000 people in the UK are estimated to be waiting for an organ transplant, with three people dying each day whilst waiting to find a match.
This year’s Westfield Health British Transplant Games were held in Birmingham from 2nd August – 5th August 2018.
The Westfield Health British Transplant Games Birmingham 2018 Local Organising Committee is Chaired by Transplant Sport Trustee, Professor James Neuberger.
The Games, the flagship event of Transplant Sport, have been staged annually since 1978 in a number of host cities including Sheffield, Portsmouth, Newcastle, Cardiff, Birmingham, Exeter, Liverpool, Bolton, Belfast, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, Leicester, London, Manchester, Norwich, Loughborough, Bath and Coventry.
The Westfield Health British Transplant Games are organised by Sheffield-based events company, MLS Contracts Ltd and supported by not for profit health insurance provider Westfield Health.
In Birmingham, the Westfield Health British Transplant Games have partnered with Birmingham City Council, University of Birmingham, Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham Charity, Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity and Sport Birmingham.
For more information on The British Transplant Games please visit www.britishtransplantgames.co.uk.
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