A pig farm worker is among a group of Kilkenny runners who have pledged to run 5km every day this month to raise awareness of the plight of people with organ failure and to gather funds for the Irish Kidney Association (IKA).
They are also remembering the late Patrick Williams snr. from Gowran, who had been a kidney dialysis patient for seven years before his death three years ago on October 30, 2017.
Supporting the fundraising challenge also will be the late Patrick’s two teenage grandchildren, Nicole (19) and Sarah (14) Williams, from Freshford, who committed to running 2km daily on 30 consecutive days.
Their parents, Patrick jnr. and Regina Williams, are among the group of eight adults running the 5km distance daily throughout November. Patrick jnr., who works on a pig farm, has set up a Facebook fundraising page, with proceeds going to the IKA.
Patrick jnr. and Regina, a carer with the Health Service Executive (HSE), along with six other men and women, will be pounding the roads in different locations around the ‘Marble County’, donning bright yellow IKA t-shirts.
They will be sharing photos of themselves, their times and routes on their WhatsApp group every day until they each reach their final 150km, after 30 days. Between them they will have clocked up an impressive 1,200km over the month.
‘Shine a light’
Patrick jnr commented on the initiative, saying: “During Covid-19 restrictions our group has been keeping in touch on our WhatsApp running group and we like to challenge ourselves as some of us also did a similar 5km challenge throughout December last year.
I am delighted they have come behind this challenge and are supporting me by honouring the memory of my father whose health failed considerably in his final year. They are also supporting me and my family in helping us to raise funds for the IKA as well as to shine a light on the plight of people on long-term dialysis and people with other types of organ failure.
Patrick jnr. said that the family see the initiative as a touching tribute to his father’s memory. “My mother, Elizabeth, and my five brothers and sisters, saw my father’s struggles while he was on dialysis for seven years and watched his health decline.
“In those seven years he received hospital dialysis treatment three times weekly. First, he received his treatment in Kilkenny, but in his final years he was transferred to the renal unit in Waterford. I think he held on to life for as long as he could for the sake of my mother and for his eight grandchildren who adored him.”
National projects manager of the IKA, Colin White, said that as with all charities, it has seen an increased demand for its services during the pandemic while at the same time experiencing a significant shortfall in its fundraising.
Grassroots support from the likes of Patrick and his family is key in allowing us to continue to deliver our services while also raising awareness of the needs of people on dialysis and the importance of the family organ donation conversation.
Organ donor cards can be obtained by phoning the IKA on: 01-6205306 or by free texting the word ‘donor’ to 50050.
You can also visit the website or download a free ‘digital organ donor card’ app to your phone. Your wishes to be an organ donor can also be included on the new format driving licence, indicated on the back of the card by code 115.