The U.S. Transplant Games will take place in Pittsburgh July 11-16. UAB Hospital, one of the nation’s premier transplant centers, is raising money to send Team Alabama to the games.

More than 70 participants went to Louisville for the last Transplant Games in 2006, and brought home 21 medals. 

Transplant organ recipients, living organ donors and family of deceased organ donors will attend the games.

The four-day athletic competition among organ transplant recipients is open to anyone who has received a lifesaving solid organ transplant — heart, liver, kidney, lung and pancreas. Some bone marrow recipients also are eligible to participate.

The games allow recipients to test the challenges of human potential through the arena of athletic competition. They also promote the need for organ donation.