DETAILS of a major fundraising event to highlight organ donation have been announced.
Hundreds of people are expected to turn out for the Irish Kidney Association’s (IKA) annual ‘Run for a Life’ family fun run at Corkagh Park, Clondalkin on Saturday, May 28.
As well as highlighting the importance of organ donation, the event is also being held to raise funds for the IKA.
Among the participants will be ambassador for Organ Donor Awareness 2016, RTÉ’s Vivienne Traynor, from Skerries, a living kidney donor. She will be joined by her extended family including her relative Michaela Delany (16), from Clondalkin, who is waiting for a second kidney transplant, having undergone her first when she was just two-year-old.
‘Run for a Life’ celebrates the ‘gift of life’ and aims to raise awareness about the vital importance of organ donation and transplantation. The event, sponsored by Astellas Pharma Co Ltd., is open to members of the public of all ages who have the option of walking, jogging or running competitively in either a chip timed 2.5km, 5km or 10km distance.
Vivienne said she has been a long time supporter of ‘Run for a Life’.
“However, this year’s event is even more significant as it emerges that another family member now needs a vital, life changing kidney transplant,” she said.
“With love and support from her parents and wider family, Michaela has always lived life to the full after receiving a kidney transplant at a very young age.
“Now she needs another transplant to help her continue to be the bright bubbly teenager that she is.
“I am delighted to join with her and her parents, my first cousin Dermot and his wife Liz, to support this year’s Run for a Life.
“Also keen to support the event is my nephew Martin Traynor who I donated a kidney to prior to him undergoing another transplant a few years later from a deceased donor.”
Vivienne added: “We will be taking part as one big extended family to help the Irish Kidney Association to continue getting the message out there about the importance of organ donation.”
‘Run for a Life’ race organiser Colin White, from Balbriggan, said the event is a great day out for all of the family.
“The Irish Kidney Association sees this event as a positive way to promote organ donor awareness,” said Mr White.
“We are looking to encourage the public to think about it, talk about it and make a commitment to organ donation.
“The support of families who have been touched by organ failure in helping us to promote the event is very much appreciated. All of this is underpinned by the continued support of event sponsor, Astellas Pharma.”
The entry fee is €20 for an adult, €10 for a child and €45 for a family of two adults and for children. For more information, visit www.runforalife.ie
Meanwhile, the Irish Kidney Association has introduced a fundraising method via mobile phone. Text ‘kidney’ to 50300 and €2 will be donated from your mobile phone account to the IKA. For organ donor cards Freetext DONOR to 50050 or visit www.ika.ie/card.