At the presentation of the cheque were Captain Pat Conway (Edmondstown Golf Club), Sarah Benson (TUHF, Head of Marketing & Communications), Professor George Mellotte (Consultant Nephrologist in TUH & HSE National Clinical lead for Renal Services) and Captain Bernie Beirne (Edmondstown Golf Club)
Golf captains ace it with €27k donation to hospital renal unit
THE captains of Edmondstown Golf Club donated over €27,000 to the renal unit of Tallaght University Hospital (TUH), enabling them to purchase two “life-changing” machines for their patients.
Bernie Beirne and Pat Conway, the captains of the golf club, presented the cheque to hospital staff before Christmas, and it was particularly resonant for Ms Beirne as she’s very familiar with the unit’s work.
Ms Beirne said: “Tallaght University Hospital Foundation and the Renal Unit resonated deeply with me.
“My husband Sean required dialysis before his first transplant in 1995 and again before his second transplant in 2010. Sean continues to receive exceptional care under the TUH Renal team.”
A total of €27,427 was raised by the club, and it will be used by the renal unit to purchase two pieces of exercise equipment, called MotoMed Layson Leg Trainers.
They will be used in an exercise programme run by the hospital’s physiotherapists, which provides crucial support to dialysis patients.
It assists them in helping to navigate the challenges of regular hospital commutes and limited exercise opportunities.
Professor George Mellotte, consultant nephrologist in TUH and the HSE’s national clinical lead for renal services said the equipment will enable more dialysis patients to participate in exercise.
“Our patients attend for dialysis three times a week for up to four hours at a time, some have attended for over 1,000 sessions, finding the time and energy to exercise is an enormous challenge,” he said.
“To address this, the hospital introduced Ireland’s first-ever exercise programme for dialysis patients in 2021.
“This innovative initiative, primarily using the MotoMed Layson Leg Trainer, has already made a significant impact.
“This monumental donation will resonate throughout the lives of dialysis patients, not only elevating their quality of life but also propelling some toward the hope of kidney transplantation.”
Douglas Collins, CEO of the Tallaght University Hospital Foundation, echoed this sentiment and praised the golf club members for their charitable endeavour.
“While the unit currently operates with two of these life-changing machines, the funds raised by the Edmondstown Golf Club will enable the addition of two more to the programme,” he explained.
“Thanks to Edmondstown Golf Club’s dedication to our renal patients, the hospital can now buy a further two MotoMed Layson Leg Trainers.
“Each trainer, priced at €12,500, carries a tangible impact on improving the quality of life for dialysis patients. Thank you!”
