Charity cycle ‘Summer 99’ for renal unit
By Echo Reporter
ORGANISERS of the Second Tallaght Hospital Charity Cycle are delighted to announce that all funds raised will be donated to the Hospital’s Renal Unit.
The event, which takes place on June 25, is titled Summer 99 and promises not only to be an enjoyable day out for all, but also a chance to support vital renal services at Tallaght Hospital.
Kidney damage can lead patients to develop blood pressure problems, anaemia and chronic fatigue. The Renal Unit at Tallaght Hospital supervises the second largest Hospital Haemodialysis service and the largest peritoneal dialysis centre in Ireland.
While traditionally all dialysis was delivered in hospital, Tallaght Hospital now offers patients the option of being trained to do their own dialysis at home.
For people living with a chronic disease, this represents an enormous benefit as to how they live their lives.
Patients no longer have to spend up to 20 hours away from home every week getting treatment, they can have their dialysis at a time that suits them and their schedule, and gives them more time to spend with their family and friends.
Last year’s event raised over €15,000 for Stroke Services at Tallaght Hospital, with over 50 cyclists taking part.
For this year’s Summer 99, an ambitious target of €30,000 has been set.
Those wishing to take part can register online and pay a €25 registration fee, which includes a limited edition jersey and covers the running costs for the event.
The money raised from the Summer 99 will go towards the purchase of equipment that will be used to help train patients on how to deliver this life-saving treatment directly in their own homes.
Professor George Mellotte, renal consultant at Tallaght Hospital said, “I am delighted that the Charity Cycle this year will be raising money to support our vital renal services at Tallaght Hospital. The Hospital is one of the most advanced in the country in terms of the renal services it offers.
“We recently opened a home haemodialysis training centre for HSE Dublin Mid-Leinster area and we empower our patients to take control of their condition by training them to perform their own dialysis at home”.
