Expo grant goes to kidney fund

James Nolan accepting cheque from Jo McMahon, manager of BofI Kilcullen.

The €1,000 grant which is part of the Bank of Ireland Enterprise Town Expo initiative was given to the Punchestown Kidney Research Fund at Saturday's 2017 event, writes Brian Byrne.

Accepting the cheque on behalf of the charity, founder James Nolan recalled his own experience in receiving a donated kidney from his sister Catherine decades ago. Since then he has been committed to encouraging others to consider giving 'the gift of life' in organ donation.

"I'm asking you all to think of carrying an organ donor card, and to have the conversation about it with your family if you do decide to carry it," he said.

He thanked the Bank for the grant, and noted that this is a very special year for the PKRF, with the opening in September next of a brand new Renal Unit in Temple Street Children's Hospital in Dublin — the provision of the Unit has been aided by funds from the charity.

Other projects supported by the PKRF include an Art programme for dialysis patients in Dublin and Cork, a holiday home in Kerry with access to suitable dialysis facilities, and funding of a Newman Scholar in UCD specialising in renal health research.