The Galway branch of Irish Kidney Association’s largest annual fundraiser is the sale of forget-me-nots during Organ Donor Awareness Week, when volunteers take to the streets of Galway city and county. With the event now postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the organisation is asking people to donate online.
Eoin Madden, chair of the Galway branch, has appealed to people to support the IKA's vital work. “This year obviously the sale of forget-me-nots is another casualty of the Covid-19 crisis," he said. "However our vital work promoting organ donation, and supporting patients, must continue. So we are appealing to the public to donate via our Galway IKA Facebook page or by texting the word Kidney to 50300. Sending the text will donate €4 from your account to Irish Kidney Association.”
The Irish Kidney Association is a national charity, providing patient aid, support, counselling, holiday dialysis, and many more services to patients with renal disease. It also provides accommodation on the grounds of Beaumont Hospital to those who require it. At this time the IKA has chosen to hand over its accommodation unit to the hospital, so that it can deal with the Covid-19 crisis.
The IKA is working to rise to the challenge of this national crisis and assist any way it can. The organisation has moved all operations online, including local branch meetings. One such online meeting will be held this evening (Thursday ) at 8pm. Email [email protected] if you would like to attend.
The IKA Galway urges anyone with an organ transplant to isolate, as organ transplant recipients are classed as vulnerable by the HSE.
Please text Kidney to 50300 to donate €4.
