Tipperary town woman Alison Fogarty completed her 180km walk to Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, yesterday. Ms Fogarty completed the walk to celebrate the 1st anniversary of her successful kidney transplant, to remember the two people that donated kidneys to her and to raise awareness and funds for the Irish Kidney Association.
Alison, family and supporters at the Rock of Cashel on March 13th.
Since March 6th Ms Fogarty has been completing short walks in West Tipperary leading to the finale in Cashel last night when the Rock of Cashel was lit up in purple to mark World Kidney Day. To date over €8,000 has been raised on the idonate page titled Fundraiser for the Irish Kidney Association CLG.
The Rock of Cashel, lit up in Purple to mark World Kidney Day March 13th.
Ms Fogarty says the event has been a dream come true to have secured her good health and to be able to complete such a celebration. A jubilant and grateful Alison Fogarty acknowledges her two donors (a transplant failed in 2014), her family, her friends and the support from the Irish Kidney Association. Ms Fogarty wants to stress the importance of organ donation and appeals to people to think about how they could give the gift of life to another person. Information about Organ Donation can be found here. There are 2,823 people living with kidney transplants in Ireland at present, a further 2, 581 are receiving Dialysis treatment with approximately one third of these people on the transplant waiting list.
Alison at the Circle of Life Monument in Beaumont Hospital
Ms Fogarty encourages people to have positivity, belief and hope and offered huge thanks to people that joined the walks, sent good wishes and made donations. The idonate page will remain open until April 21st and donations can be made at this link here.
