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Now in its fifth year, the family Fun Run which celebrates life, is organised by the Irish Kidney Association and will take place at Park West Business Park, Dublin 12 on Sunday, 15th September.

People signing up for the Run for a Life will have the option of walking, jogging or running competitively in either a time chipped 2.5km, 5km or 10km event in Park West, Dublin 12, commencing 12 noon. There will also be an option to enter a team of four in a 4 x 2.5km Team Relay Race. The choice of events on offer makes it possible for all people, young and old, with varying levels of fitness to take part.

Speaking in advance, Colin White, Race Organiser (Irish Kidney Association) explained, “In offering a wide variety of distances in our annual Run for a Life, our intention is to offer a day that will appeal to everyone. It also offers an opportunity for the general public to celebrate life through sport whilst at the same time show their solidarity with people living with organ failure. We are looking forward to having many transplant recipients attending on the day and their participation will showcase the success of organ donation and transplantation.”

The main sponsor for the event is pharmaceutical company Astellas Pharma Co. Ltd.  Its Marketing Manager, Patricia Kelly said,“Astellas is proud to be once again partnering with the Irish Kidney Association in Run for A Life 2013. Astellas is committed to Changing tomorrow for patients in Ireland; and raising awareness for organ donation has the potential to really change outcomes for people on transplant waiting lists. We look forward to taking part in what should be a fun day for all!”

A large number of the members of the successful Irish team who participated in the 19th World Transplant Games in Durban, South Africa earlier this month, will take part in the Fun Run to play their part in raising organ donor awareness.

The Run for a Life has two main objectives.  Namely, to promote the organ donor card by raising awareness of the value and success of organ donation and transplantation and to raise funds to support the Irish Kidney Association in its on-going work. 

The Irish Kidney Association (IKA)  is charged with the promotion and distribution of the organ donor card in Ireland. The prime role of the IKA  is to support patients and their families affected by end stage kidney disease and are either being treated by dialysis or have a working kidney transplant.  As the only organisation representing the views of Irish kidney patients, The IKA continually lobbies at all levels on their behalf. The Irish Kidney Association also manages sports programmes for dialysis patients and transplant recipients and manages Team Ireland’s involvement at national and international sporting events including the biennial World Transplant Games and the European Transplant & Dialysis Games which take place every alternate year.

Registration (a participant medal, as well as soup and a sandwich afterwards) will be €15 for adults and €10 per child and a Family of 2 adults and up to 4 children can register for €35. Teams (4 adults) entering for the relay can register for €55. For registration and further details log on to: www.runforalife.ie

For organ donor cards Freetext DONOR to 50050 or LoCall 1890 543639

Smart phone users can download the ‘Organ Donor E-card’ app from the App store or Android Play Store.

For further information contact:
Colin White, IKA, Tel. 01 6205306 mob. 087 6843644 email colin@ika.ie
Gwen O’Donoghue, mob. 086 8241447 email. gwenodonoghue1@gmail.com