Hello everyone!

Joan here. On the 6^th July, I will be taking part in the 170km Ring of Kerry Charity Cycle in support of the Irish Kidney Association (IKA). As some of you will already know, I recently donated a kidney to my older sister, Fiona, through the National Living Donor Renal Transplant Programme at Beaumont Hospital.

The IKA is a charitable voluntary organisation founded in 1978. It is dedicated to meeting the needs of renal patients and their families and carers, living with and affected by end-stage renal disease. These needs are spread across all aspects of life – medical, social and psychological. Kidney disease affects people of all ages, both men and women. The reality of kidney disease is that it may impinge on many strands of a person’s life including health, employment, education, social life and relationships, physical fitness and general well-being.

One of the ways the IKA supports renal patients and their families is through their kidney support centres. There is one located in the grounds of Beaumont Hospital and they also have a brand new Munster Kidney Support Centre, located very close to Cork University Hospital in a quiet cul-de-sac. Aside from providing free overnight accommodation for patients and their families when they have to travel a long distance for treatment, or are called for transplant, the IKA’s support centres offer much more than that. Whether it is chatting with other patients or family members in the communal areas, or looking for peace and quiet, their support centres provide a thoughtful and well-designed space that fosters a sense of comfort, support and “a home away from home”.

As a living kidney donor, I am acutely aware of the importance of raising awareness for the life-saving value of kidney and organ donation. It is important to me to be continuously grateful for good health and body functionality when so many are less fortunate due to physical illness. Having a sister who has received the gift of life through organ donation, I am thrilled to be raising much-needed funds for such a worthwhile cause.

I have been training hard and am looking forward to the event!

A small donation or whatever you can give to support my efforts for the Irish Kidney Association would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you for reading.

Best wishes,

Joan.

To find out more, please visit:

https://ika.ie/ringofkerry/