Press Release
29 Jul 2010
Run for A Life organisers urge public to carry organ donor card
- More than 600 on transplant waiting list -
Last year, 261 life changing organ transplants took place in Irish hospitals, but the demand for organs still greatly outnumbers suitable donors available and more than 600 people are on the various organ transplant waiting lists today.
With the countdown to the 2nd annual Run for a Life charity fun run already begun, organisers of the race are calling on members of the public to carry an organ donor card and to join them in raising awareness of the need for organ donors and funding for organ transplant units and organ transplant patients throughout Ireland. 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, 18th September, 2010 at 1.30 p.m.
Denis Fennelly, Marketing Director, Astellas Pharma Co. Ltd, said, “The theme of this year’s fun run, Run Today, Save a Life Tomorrow, reflects the very real need for people to carry an organ donor card. This year we have partnered with the Irish Kidney Association to help highlight the importance of carrying an organ donor card and to raising awareness for the need for more organ donors amongst the general public.”
The event will offer participants a choice of a 3km walk/run, a 6km walk/run or a 9km walk/run. The registration fee of €15 includes a BBQ lunch after the event, music and entertainment and children’s activities 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, on-going 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.”
Professor Peter Conlon, a leading consultant in Nephrology and Renal Transplantation at BeaumontHospital, said, “Run for a Life is greatly welcomed by the medical community and shows a commitment to medical research and transplant education in Ireland. We hope people around the country are inspired by this event to think about organ donation, speak to their family about it and consider carrying a donor card’.
Sonia Treacy, aged 35, from Newbridge, Co Kildare, had a kidney transplant operation in 2000. In 2008, her transplanted kidney began to fail and Sonia has been on dialysis for the last two years. “My life was saved by organ donation. But many organs do fail, even after a number of years and then, if you are lucky, you have to start back on the waiting list and back on dialysis. It’s bittersweet for me because I know the difference the transplant made in my life, thanks to the generous decision made by my organ donor family. Now I am back on the waiting list, hoping that more people know that they have the power to save lives, just by registering and carrying a wallet sized donor card with them. I’ll still be running in the 9K at the Run for a Life this year!”
To register for the ‘Run for a Life’ Fun Run please log onto www.runforalife.ie or ring M+C Events on 6650300 for details.
Those interested in applying for organ donor cards can simply FREETEXT the word DONOR to 50050. To learn more about organ donation, please go to the IKA website www.ika.ie orcontact the Irish Kidney Association on Locall 1890543639 (1890) kidney or 01 6205306 or e-mail info@ika.ie
ENDS
For further information, comment or an interview please contact:
Morwenna Rice, Corporate Reputations, 01 661 8915, 086 1940069, keira@corporatereputations.ie or Ronan Roche, Corporate Reputations, 01 661 8915, 086 046 0326, ronan@corporatereputations.ie
Note to Editor:
About Astellas Pharma Inc: Astellas Pharma is one of the top 20 pharmaceutical companies in the world and employs 6,600 people worldwide. It is focused on three key therapy areas: urology, dermatology, and transplantation and produces innovative and reliable pharmaceutical products. Astellas Pharma Co. Ltd employs more than 400 people in the Republic of Ireland. Headquartered in Kilcarbery Business Park, Clondalkin, Dublin, the company also has two manufacturing plants, one in Mulhaddart, Co Dublin and one in Killorglin, Co Kerry.
About The Irish Kidney Association: IKA is a charitable voluntary organisation of patients and carers founded in 1978. They are dedicated to meeting the needs of renal patients and their families and carers, living with and affected by end stage renal disease. The IKA provide services both directly to patients and act as a conduit for accessing services. For further information please visit www.ika.ie. The IKA run the National Organ Donor Awareness Campaigns on behalf of the Irish Donor Network – a group of all interested parties of patients requiring organs for transplantation.
Press Release Archive
29 Jul 2010 - Run for A Life organisers urge public to carry organ donor card