Charity Race jockeys visit dialysis unit

Jockeys (front) Sarah Costello, Sara Leahy, Ella Budds and Rob Harrison with (back) Tallaght University Hospital Arts and Health Manager Ali Baker Kerrigan and James Nolan.

Four amateur jockeys taking part in the 34th Punchestown Festival Charity Race visited the Vartry Renal Unit at Tallaght University Hospital this week to meet patients on dialysis and staff caring for them, writes Brian Byrne. For Ella Budds, Sarah Costello, Sarah Leahy and Rob Harrison, it was a firsthand experience of the impact their efforts have on those with kidney-related illnesses. 

Twenty-two amateur jockeys who have raised the required sponsorship and met the fitness criteria will take part in the “Have the conversation - Say Yes to Organ Donation“ event next Saturday, bringing to over €2 million the total amount raised by the race since its inception.

The group visiting TUH included CEO of Punchestown Racecourse Conor O’Neill, race director Richie Galway, and Kilcullen businessman James Nolan, the founder of the Charity Race and of the Punchestown Kidney Research Fund which administers the money raised by those taking part. The Vartry Renal Dialysis Unit, along with similar facilities at University Hospital Waterford and Wexford General Hospital, hosts PKRF-supported Art and Music programmes aimed at easing potential boredom for patients spending four hours a day three times a week on dialysis machines. 

At TUH, these include Art at the Bedside sessions led by artists in residence Lucia Barnes and Olivia Hassett. The Soothing Sounds live music programme, a project of the State Man Arts Programme in the Vartry Unit, features professional musicians in residence, Dr Sophie Lee and Justin McCann on piano, and Dr Mary Louise O’Donnell on harp.

James Nolan outlined the work of PKRF, which over the years has provided a holiday home in Kerry for dialysis patients and their families, funds for a renal unit at Temple Street Children’s Hospital, and ongoing support for a range of kidney research. Other initiatives include a pilot Peer Support programme for dialysis and transplant patients, and the James Tracy/PKRF/Kidney Beam Exercise programme offering free exercise classes to dialysis and transplant patients. James emphasised that he wouldn't be there talking to the group if it weren’t for the fact that his sister Catherine had donated one of her kidneys to him in 1987. 

This year’s Charity Race features riders from eight counties on the island of Ireland as well as participants from England, Wales, Italy, and Poland. 

The Tallaght University Hospital Vartry Renal Dialysis Unit has been operational for five years, and serves about 170 patients weekly with a dedicated staff of 25-30 people.

James Nolan speaking to the group.

Richie Galway and Conor O'Neill talking with the jockeys.

Richie Galway, race director at Punchestown Racecourse; James Nolan, chairman of PKRF; Tallaght University Hospital Arts and Health Manager Ali Baker Kerrigan; CEO of Punchestown Racecourse Conor O'Neill; with dialysis patient Anthony Jones.

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