Kind Ashbourne woman's fundraiser inspired by neighbour with kidney failure
A retired Ashbourne Garda with kidney failure was the inspiration for his neighbourhood friend to undertake a fundraiser to mark her 50th birthday to raise organ donor awareness and support the Irish Kidney Association (IKA).
Dog lover Suzanne Murphy Beattie from Ashbourne, Co Meath is hoping to make her milestone birthday an unforgettable one this year to support of all those people waiting for transplants including her friend and ex Garda Jim Hallinan (70) who undergoes dialysis treatment.
Jim received the shock diagnosis of kidney failure sixteen years ago after watching a TV ad about prostate cancer encouraging men to go and get a health checked.
Popular social media funny man and author Rory O’Connor, aka Rory’s Stories, also from Ashbourne, showed up for a photo opportunity with Jim and Suzanne on her farm to support her fundraiser and to help shine a light on the important cause.
Also taking part in the photos were Suzanne’s cherished dogs fondly known as Denis Irwin and Roy Keane.
Rory said, “When I heard from Suzanne about her motivation for her fundraiser I didn’t hesitate when I agreed to try and help her raise awareness for it. If I can help shine a light on the cause so that more people will think about organ donation and sign up for donor cards then I’m delighted to be involved.”
Explaining her motivation a very enthusiastic Suzanne said, “Jim walks by my house everyday and is such a gentleman and he always stops to chat. During lockdown we got to know each other a lot better and he told me he is having dialysis three times a week and is on the waiting list for a transplant.
“That was the motivation for me to do a birthday fundraiser as I wanted to do something to try to help Jim and raise awareness about people like him waiting for kidney transplants and other organs also.
“When doing my research I learned that there are nearly 5000 kidney patients in Ireland. Almost 2200 of them are undergoing dialysis treatment and about 500 of them are on transplant waiting lists for a kidney and a further hundred approximately people are waiting for heart, lungs, liver or pancreas transplants.”
Jim asserted, “Suzanne is a really positive outgoing and fun person with a good heart. I really appreciate her motivation to do a fundraiser for the Irish Kidney Association which advocates for people like me who are in renal failure.
In explaining his health story Jim said, “a TV advert which I watched about sixteen years ago which encouraged men to get their prostrate checked led me to my GP who undertook various tests and one led to the shock diagnosis for myself and my wife Jean that I was progressing towards kidney failure.
Fortunately, it was caught early, and I was able to manage my condition and slow down its progression for over a decade with medical supervision and lifestyle and dietary changes.
Three years ago my kidney function declined to a point that I had to commence dialysis treatment and around the same time I was entered onto the transplant waiting list where I remain until a suitable donor kidney becomes available. I currently undergo four hourly dialysis treatment three times a week. Fortunately, the dialysis is working well for me.”
Suzanne fundraiser is being run thought the Irish Kidney Association’s Facebook entitled Suzanne’s fundraiser for the Irish Kidney Association https://www.facebook.com/donate/620269805283496
Organ Donor Cards can be obtained by phoning the Irish Kidney Association on 01 6205306 or Free text the word DONOR to 50050.
You can also visit the website www.ika.ie/get-a-donor-card or download a free ‘digital organ donor card’ APP to your phone.
The public can also support the work of the Irish Kidney Association and can Freetext KIDNEY to 50300 to donate €4.
Texts cost €4, Irish Kidney Association will receive a minimum of €3.60. Service