By Mike Finney

DOVER — Brandon Beckham was one of eight athletes from Delaware who left their marks on the 2024 Transplant Games of America in Birmingham, Alabama, last month.

The living kidney donor from Dover bowled over his competition at the event, capturing three gold medals. It was an illuminating experience for Mr. Beckham, who came out on top in darts, bowling doubles and bowling singles.

“This was my first time ever hearing about an event like this, so when I went down there, I really didn’t know what to expect,” the 38-year-old said. “But, when I got there, I was greeted with open arms by everybody. They were so welcoming. If I had a question, there were, like, 16 people there that would give me an answer.

“Everybody had smiles on their faces, and it was fun watching them play, and it was just an amazing time.”

Mr. Beckham is one year removed from donating a kidney he thought would be destined for his mother.

“My mom needed a kidney, and I wanted to give it to my mom, but we weren’t a match. So, we went to the system of the paired donation, and I ended up giving my kidney to someone in California. Then, somebody in Virginia ended up giving a kidney to my mom.”

The act of donating an organ made a huge impression on Mr. Beckham, who got even more satisfaction when he was chosen for the Transplant Games.

Mr. Beckham said he bowled with his family “now and then” growing up, but it has become a passion.

A couple years ago, he and his dad were convinced by his brother to join his team in a league in Dover, and “ever since then, I’ve just been bowling. It’s really enjoyable. I’m in two or three leagues a week now.”

Mr. Beckham, who works at Stevenson House Detention Center in Milford, sports a 190 average.

He also pointed out that “August is National Minority Donor Awareness Month, and the goal is to increase donor registration and transplants in the Black and Brown communities.”

Delawareans a part of Team Philly

Anna Busarello served as team manager for the Gift of Life Donor Program's Team Philly, which had 130 attendees from the Delaware, south New Jersey and east Pennsylvania region.

Members of the team brought home 125 medals in all age groups: 70 gold, 30 silver and 25 bronze.

She said Mr. Beckham brought spirit and energy to the group.

“He is one of the most wonderful people,” Ms. Busarello said. “He was one of our best athletes out there, and he wasn’t only competing, but he was there cheering on our team in almost every sport and every event that he could make, and it was wonderful to see that.

“We had about 130 men, women and children on the team. Of that, 46 were athletes, meaning that they were either (organ) recipients, or they were living donors. We had an age range of 8 years old to 78 years old on our team.”

Three other Delawareans earned medals for Team Philly, including Todd French, a heart recipient from Milford, who won a gold medal in golf singles and a silver in Texas Hold ’em poker.

Mr. French is nearly three years removed from his procedure and was looking forward to competing.

“When I first came across (the Transplant Games) a couple of years ago, I was excited and told everybody about it,” he said. “It happens every two years, and I’ve been really looking forward to it. I golf a lot, so I’m out golfing all the time.”

Meantime, Desiree Ingram, a kidney recipient from Dover, won a gold medal in bowling doubles and a bronze in table tennis, while Xzavier Shockley, a kidney recipient from Laurel, earned two gold medals in the long jump and bowling doubles, and a bronze medal in the 60-meter dash.

Overall, more than 3,000 individuals competed in the Birmingham competition, which offered 20 events.

Organ recipients competed in Division I, while living donors and tissue, cornea and bone marrow recipients were in Division II.

“They are so inspirational,” Ms. Busarello said of the competitors. “The power, the camaraderie and the compassion of the entire Transplant Games carry the important message that transplantation really works.

“You got to see people thriving, either swimming in a swimming pool or doing the long jump or running in the relays — trying new things but also competing in sports that they love.”

More than just medals

The Transplant Games are more than just athletic contests. They also spread the message about the power of organ donation and showcase success stories.

“People come from all over the country, and we’ve seen from our team, it doesn’t matter where it is, people come out every two years because it matters so much to them,” Ms. Busarello said. “We also have donor families come with us, who are able to honor their loved ones and then see the effects that donation has had on people from around the country.”

The Games also left a profound effect on Mr. Beckham, who witnessed how many lives organ transplants can touch.

“Everybody that you saw was welcoming at the (Transplant) Games,” he said. “There was no tension among people, and it was an amazing event.”

Ms. Busarello said this year’s Games were aligned with the Gift of Life Donor Program’s 50th anniversary, and the organization is using the milestone to register 50,000 new donors. To find out more, visit https://www.donors1.org/50th/

“The goal of the Games is to showcase the healthy, vibrant lives made possible by donation,” she said, “and it’s a way to say thank you to donor heroes who have selflessly given the gift of life.”

Staff writer Mike Finney can be reached at 302-741-8230 or mfinney@iniusa.org.
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