The Irish Kidney Association’s third virtual ‘Run for a Life’ takes place this month between May 21st and May 28th.
This year the 7×7 challenge has been introduced to the ‘Run for a Life’ event. The challenge aims to highlight the significance of organ donation and remind people that one organ donor can save seven lives.
The Irish Kidney Association is encouraging people to take part in the event. National Advocacy & Projects Manager for the IKA Colin White has described ‘Run for a Life’ as “fun and life-affirming”.
“The Run for a Life event is a fun way for people of all ages and levels of fitness to come together (virtually) in solidarity around the need to raise awareness of the importance, and success, of organ donation for transplantation. It is also about raising funds to support the work we do. Waiting for a transplant is an uncertain time and events like this are about letting those on the transplant pool, and their families, know that they are not alone. Every person who gets an Organ Donor Card and shares their wishes with their family is giving hope to those who are waiting for ‘the call’. We encourage people from all around Ireland and beyond to take part in this fun and life affirming event and to post their photos on social media, using #RFAL2022”.
A number of transplant recipients attended the launch of the event recently at Burgess Park. Denise Geoghegan from Mountmellick, Co. Laois and Tomas Caffrey from Holycross, in Co. Tipperary who both received their transplants in 2020.
Also in attendance were Phelim O’Neill from Roscommon and Cathy Smyth from Athlone, Co. Westmeath. Phelim received his transplant 26-years-ago, while Cathy received hers eight years ago. Both underwent their transplants at Beaumont Hospital.
Families and friends of the successful transplant recipients were also at the event.
Registration is €10 per person (or €25 for a family of two adults and up to two children) and people can choose to Run, Jog or Walk 2.5km, 5km or 10km once or as many times as they like between Saturday, 21st and Saturday, 28th May.
For those wishing to partake in the 7×7 challenge there is a special discounted rate of €7 per person for groups of 7 and a free t-shirt for everyone who get sponsorship of €7 or more each from seven people.
To register log on to www.ika.ie/runforalife.
Individuals who wish to support organ donation are encouraged to keep the reminders of their decision available by carrying the organ donor card, permitting Code 115 to be included on their driver’s licence or having the free ‘digital organ donor card’ App on their smartphone. Organ Donor Cards can be requested by visiting the IKA website www.ika.ie/get-a-donor-card or to your phone, phoning the Irish Kidney Association on 01 6205306 or Free text the word DONOR to 50050.
