She’s Got Whatever It Takes
From The Melbourne Yarra Leader - 28th June, 2006
AGAINST THE ODDS
Maria Bervanakis
THE sheer courage and determination of some people greatly inspires us all.
North Melbourne’s Christine Griffiths is one such person.
Griffiths, 57, swooped the gold in the 100m, 200m and 400m run and 3km race walk at this year’s Victoria Police and Emergency Services Games in Melbourne.
She also took gold in the open female singles of the table tennis event and silver in the open mixed doubles.
What makes Griffiths’achievement extraordinary is that she is battling a serious lung condition brought on by a bone marrow transplant she had 18 years ago.
Griffiths - a St John Ambulance volunteer - was diagnosed with leukaemia and beat the condition by undergoing the operation. Its effects have been debilitating but that has not stopped her from pursuing competitive sport. “Running was my passion. My best time was 40 minutes for a l0km event,” she said.
In September, Griffiths will compete in the Australian Transplant Games in Geelong in running, race walking, tennis and table tennis events. She represented Australia in the World Transplant Games in Canada, taking gold in the table tennis doubles and bronze in the singles.
Griffiths is this week’s Leader Sports Star.
(Photo Caption)
GREAT RETURN: Christine Griffiths wins medals in a range of sports.