A 21 year-old woman from Askeaton who has cerebral palsy has raised just under €5,000 for the Irish Kidney Association by travelling on her motomed for 58 kilometres to represent the same distance to and from Páirc na nGael. Sarah O’Sullivan, a full-time wheelchair user, decided to undertake the virtual journey over seven days during the Covid 19 lockdown to raise organ donor awareness. Sarah’s inspiration for undertaking the challenge was to honour the memory of her late cousin Jack Walsh who was 19 years old when he died tragically in Spain two years ago and saved four lives through organ donation. She also paid tribute to her late grandfather, Bobby Walsh, who passed away before she was born, and who underwent a kidney transplant in 1986.
Sarah was overwhelmed that her initial fundraising target of €200 was far surpassed and a total of €4,970 was raised via the Just Giving online platform through donations from her family, friends and supporters in her community who enthusiastically came behind the life-saving cause.
Sarah’s mother Bríd said, “Sarah is passionate about sport, including hurling and football and Munster rugby. Our family’s support for organ donation and the Irish Kidney Association goes back decades, as my late father had a kidney transplant. Gaelic Grounds seemed like the obvious location for Sarah to choose for her virtual journey during lockdown and the Irish Kidney Association was the obvious charity to fundraise for.”
“I am one of five siblings and we have a very close extended family and we all carry donor cards and all the children were brought up knowing that we supported organ donation. When they became teenagers, they opted to carry donor cards, including their late cousin Jack. Sarah had a huge grá for her cousin Jack and they were the same age when he died. We all miss him terribly, but we all take heart in knowing that he saved the lives of four other people through organ donation. We are all very proud of what Sarah has done in Jack and her grandfather’s memory.”
Organ Donor Cards can be obtained by phoning the Irish Kidney Association on 01-6205306 or Free text the word DONOR to 50050. You can also visit the website www.ika.ie/get-a-donor-card or download a free ‘digital organ donor card’ app to your phone.
The public can also support the work of the Irish Kidney Association and can Freetext KIDNEY to 50300 to donate €4. Texts cost €4, Irish Kidney Association will receive a minimum of €3.60. Service Provider: LIKECHARITY. Helpline: 076 6805278. They can also donate through the Irish Kidney Association’s website ika.ie/make-a-contribution/