‘My life was transformed after my sister donated a kidney’
RENAL patients undergoing dialysis in Tallaght University Hospital were visited by jockeys taking part in a special race this weekend for the Punchestown Kidney Research Fund.
The Fund, which has raised more than €1.7m for patients with kidney failure, pays for the arts and health programme for those undergoing kidney dialysis at Tallaght.
Ahead of the charity race, which is part of the Punchestown Horseracing Festival, five of the jockeys riding out visited patients in the Vartry Renal Unit.
Professor Catherine Wall, a Consultant Nephrologist at Tallaght University Hospital (TUH), said: “For many patients, our arts and health programme offers a very valuable distraction during their dialysis sessions which can feel tedious and repetitive, taking place three times a week for many years.
“We are grateful for the valuable support provided by the Punchestown Kidney Research Fund (PKRF), so we can continue this worthwhile initiative.”
The Punchestown Kidney Research Fund was founded by James Nolan who, the owner of Nolan’s butchers in Kildare, also visited the Vartry Renal Unit in TUH.
“My life was transformed after my sister donated a kidney to me back in 1987, prior to that I knew nothing other than hospitals, diets and medications,” he said.
“After I recovered, I wanted to help others.
“It was great to visit TUH and see first-hand how patients are benefiting from the funds we have raised.”
The charity horserace is now in its 32nd year and to date has raised more than €1.7m for patients with kidney failure.
This year, 71 amateur jockeys applied for 25 places to take part in the final race of the festival on Saturday, April 29.
Alison Baker Kerrigan, Arts Officer at TUH paid tribute to the ongoing support provided by the charity.
Alison noted how the jockeys had “improved the hospital experience for kidney dialysis patients by making the Arts accessible to all”.
She added: “Our artist in residence Lucia Barnes who facilitates the patient art sessions does an amazing job of listening to the patient’s likes and needs before working with them to create a piece of art that is both enjoyable to do and important to them.
“Lucia’s combined skillset as both a qualified nurse and professional artist is hugely beneficial to all involved.”
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