The word Games is nothing new to Yukoners.

In fact, that one word has been dominating conversation around the territory for the past four years.

But while the 2007 Canada Winter Games continue to garner attention and support, there is another event that is relatively unknown across the country, and Yukon resident Farley Hayes is among hundreds of people hoping to change that.

The Canadian Transplant Games (CTG) have been up and running since 2002, held every second year. It's an idea that was adopted from the World Transplant Games which have been held in various locations across the globe every two years for the past 32.

People who compete at CTG have undergone a variety of transplants, ranging from heart to kidney to liver. The transplant recipients compete against each other in cycling, table tennis, golf, volleyball, badminton, lawn bowling, swimming, tennis, drag boat and track and field. Just like other Games, there are opening and closing ceremonies, pin trading, and the winners are presented with medals.

'The purpose of the whole Games is to get people to sign their donor cards,' explained Hayes, who competed at the 2006 Canadian Transplant Games last week in Edmonton. 'Only 15 per cent of people in Canada sign donor cards, so we want to bring that number up.'

Hayes is the recipient of a liver transplant, a surgery which was completed in Edmonton two years ago today, thanks in large part to his brother who lives in Haines Junction.

'August 16, 2004, that's my birthday. That's when you're born again. My brother gave me a piece of his liver, I had a live donor which isn't as common. It's a lot trickier.'

It's believed Hayes, who competed in golf, badminton and bowling, is the first athlete to represent the Yukon at the Games, which is something he's extremely proud of.

Before he left the territory, he collected pins and ties from MLA's and the City of Whitehorse to give away, as well as little samples of gold from the Yukon Chamber of Commerce.

'It was just a hoot,' he smiled. 'Everybody loved it. The Whitehorse pins were especially big with the kids.'

Hayes also took some Yukon Brewing posters, which he said were very popular, and wore a hat from the Meadow Lakes Golf Course which gave him free rounds of golf prior to the Games for training to advertise his 'home course.'

All of that training paid off as Hayes picked up three bronze medals at the Games, one of which was for his final score of 90 in golf. Of course, that could also be contributed to his vacation in Ontario just prior to the Edmonton event.

While there visiting family, he was able to golf a round with the presidents of Calloway and Taylor Made, two large golf product manufacturers, on private courses.

'They just treated me like royalty, training me for the transplant Games,' he said, adding his cousin also dressed him up in brand new golf gear in preparation for the competition.

'(When he first arrived in Ontario), I was wearing my usual Yukon get up. But he wouldn't have any of that.'

Armed and ready, he took the Games by storm. Unfortunately, Hayes was injured in the badminton finals and wasn't able to compete in swimming like he originally planned. But he was still amazed at the spirit of the Games when he attended the swimming events as a spectator.

'I couldn't do the swimming but people still cheered. They said my name over the announcement system and mentioned where I was from. It was great.'

Hayes' brother and niece travelled to Edmonton to watch him in the Games and held a sign proclaiming their support.

He also received support from a new friend at the Games, forming a bond with Grade 7 student Kathleen T'Seleie from Norman Wells, N.W.T. who had also undergone a liver transplant. Together they made up 'Team Northern Canada'. T'Seleie trucked home 10 medals in total, much to the delight of her teammate.

'We had quite a grand time representing the north, holding team meetings. I don't think they were quite prepared for us. It was humourous.

'They all knew Yukon was there.'

Hayes even asked about the possibility of Yukon hosting the CTG in the future, but the territory doesn't have a major hospital which would present a lot of difficulties, he was told. There would need to be helicopters on standby and extra doctors at every event in case of emergency.

Still, even though it's unlikely the event will be held in the territory anytime soon, Hayes is hooked and determined to compete in every one that he can.

'I was very impressed. It changed my attitude a lot. I went away with a better vision of life. I've been waiting for something to show me ... going there answered 99 per cent of my questions on why I'm still alive.

'Now I can get on with my life and go to the next Games. Now that I've met (the other athletes associated with the Games), they're like family.

'Now it's up to me to keep competing and get other transplant recipients to come, get them up off the couch.'

Hayes hopes to reunite with T'Seleie for the World Games, which will be held in Thailand next year, and he plans to enter the track and field events this time as well.

'I saw (track and field) when I was there and I think I could kick their asses,' he laughed.

'I think it's the wild meat up here, because the girl from Norman Wells is feeling just as healthy as I am.'

In fact, while Hayes admits to being exhausted and sore right now, he said he's never felt happier. He's even considering going back to work he hasn't worked full time in about five years. He can't thank his family and friends enough for standing behind him and helping him get to this point, he said.

As a token of his appreciation, Hayes is going to give his brother one of his bronze medals from the Games and another to his nurse, Kate, at the University of Alberta hospital, where he still goes for yearly checkups.

'I called her Nurse Nasty and I think she was pretty happy about that,' he laughed. 'At the time of the transplant, you don't believe you'll ever get the hell out of the hospital.

'She kicked me out of bed, made me get up and keep going.'

Hayes feels it's up to transplant recipients to 'pay life back' by being better world citizens, helping save more lives by showing the rest of society how important being a donor is.

'We all feel pretty special, pretty lucky. We want to show the success of organ donating. All it takes is for you to sign your donor card and talk things over with your family.

'There was one lady who attended the opening ceremony at the Games. Her daughter had died a couple of years ago and she said seven people had benefited from her daughter's organs.

'It works.'