The countdown to the second annual Run for a Life charity fun run has officially begun! This year’s Run for a Life charity fun run, organised by Astellas Pharma Co Ireland in partnership with the Irish Kidney Association (IKA ), is taking place at Corkagh Park, Clondalkin, on Saturday September 18 at 1.30pm.
Local Westmeath woman, Niamh Mc Loughlin, is set to race the 6km event in this year’s charity fun run to help raise awareness of the need for organ donors and funding for organ transplant units and patients throughout Ireland. Niamh is calling on the people of Westmeath to register for the Run for a Life fun run and to join them in raising awareness of organ donation and research throughout Ireland.
The event will offer participants a choice of a 3km, a 6km or a 9km walk/run. The registration fee is €15 and there will be a free BBQ lunch after the event with music and entertainment provided, such as face painting and balloon shaping. Families are welcome to attend and those interested in taking part should register online at www.runforalife.ie All funds raised will be donated equally to the IKA, as well as to organ transplant units at Beaumont, St Vincent’s University Hospital, and Mater Misericordiae hospital.
Mark Murphy, CEO, IKA, said, “A transplant patient usually requires a lifetime of treatment: regular out-patient monitoring, ongoing medication, surgery for dialysis access, dialysis, transplantation, possible return to dialysis and re-transplantation, and so on, often developing additional health problems on the way. Despite an increase in the numbers of people carrying an organ donor card, there is still an exceptional demand for transplants versus organ donors. If the Run for a Life event can help change the future of even one patient awaiting a transplant, then we will consider it a great success. I urge members of the public to speak to their families and friends about carrying an organ donor card. Doing so can literally save lives.”
To register for the ‘Run for a Life’ fun run please log onto www.runforalife.ie Those interested in applying for organ donor cards can simply freetext the word DONOR to 50050.
