Rugby legend Jonah Lomu was born to Tongan parents in Auckland, New Zealand on May 12, 1975. During school he was already an outstanding rugby player and soon became known for his talent. Until the age of 14 he played rugby league and change to rugby at Wesley College. In 1994 Jonah became part of the New Zealand national team, which made him the youngest player, at that time 19 years and 45 days old, to wear the shirt of the All-Blacks. During the 1995 World Cup in South Africa Jonah scored seven tries in five matches and scored a further eight tries during the World Cup of 1999. With this he broke the record of all-time top try scorer, which he still holds today.

Jonah Lomu was diagnosed with a severe kidney disorder in 1997. Fortunately, Jonah was a strong man and succeeded coming back for the 1999 Rugby World Cup. In 2004 Jonah received a kidney transplant and doomed to never play rugby again made a comeback with the Welsh ‘Cardiff Blues’ in 2005. When he broke his ankle he nonetheless had to end his time with Cardiff Blues early.

Champion for Peace

Today, Jonah is a “Champion for Peace”. Champions for Peace are top sports champions who wish to help disadvantaged communities through sport. They spend their time, popularity and their sporting experience to help projects for peace-promotion and peace-building and participate in raising awareness among decision-makers in politics and the private sector to change their attitudes. They are role-models and a source of inspiration for youth throughout the world (www.peace-sport.org).

Jonah’s experience with a kidney disorder led him to support several foundations or charities. The charities he supports include:

• Cure Kids invests in research that seeks to find cures to deadly illnesses. It has funded medical research that has generated several breakthroughs into childhood cancers, understanding genetics, cot death, hole in the heart babies and cystic fibrosis.
• Special Olympics New Zealand offers people with an intellectual disability opportunities to practice sports  ranging from fun days at local level to national representation at international events.
• National Kidney Research Foundation UK funds research to prevent kidney diseases and to find a cure. Jonah is also the patron of the NZ Kidney Foundation.
• The Ronald McDonald Houses in Auckland and Wellington provide care for children that are receiving hospital treatment for serious and often deadly conditions and diseases. Jonah regularly visits the kids whenever he can.
• Kidney Kids is a non-for-profit organization that provides emotional support and help to parents of children with Kidney Disorders.

Jonah Lomu’s Health

Unfortunately, on September 24 this year Jonah was hospitalized because of complications with his transplanted kidney. During his stay at the Auckland hospital he underwent daily dialysis – a process for removing waste and excess water from the blood. Meanwhile, tests were conducted to see whether his kidney could be recovered, but at the moment the outcome of the tests is unknown. He has been released from hospital.