Transplant athletes presented with 2025 kit in Kilcullen

The mental challenges of competing were highlighted by champion jockey Rachel Blackmore yesterday when she met with Transplant Sport Ireland members in Kilcullen Community Centre, ahead of upcoming international competitions. She was the guest speaker at the group's Annual Kit Day.

After some reflection on her own sporting journey, she acknowledged the resilience and strength of those athletes in the room, and told them the important thing was to stay 'focused, relaxed and present' as they prepare for competition. 

Thirty-nine athletes were presented with their official Team Ireland kit for both the British Transplant Games in Oxford and the World Transplant Games in Dresden, Germany.

In all, more than a hundred people gathered in the centre for the event, including athletes, members of their families, and supporters. It was hosted by Kilcullen businessman James Nolan, and the kit was sponsored by the Punchestown Kidney Research Fund, founded by James more than three decades ago after he received his own kidney transplant.

This year, Team Ireland will field eight adult athletes, two living donors, and four U18s at the British Transplant Games in Oxford, and 29 transplant athletes at the World Transplant Games in Dresden.

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'Nail-biting' finish to Punchestown Charity Race

The winning jockey in Saturday's Punchestown Charity Race was Sarah Costello from County Clare, writes Brian Byrne. It was the 34th running of the race, which was established by Kilcullen's James Nolan to help fund kidney research and support.

The race was a milestone event in its own right as it represented a total funding raised of over €2 million for the Punchestown Kidney Research Fund since it was first run. Sarah Costello was one of 22 jockeys in the race, and she was among four who visited the Vartry Renal Unit at Tallaght University Hospital recently to see firsthand how the money raised helps people on dialysis. 

Apart from being familiar with horses from her family's business in raising foals to sell as three-year-olds and point-to-pointers, Sarah also had a direct interest in that her father, who had been on dialysis for a number of years, received a transplant a short time ago.

"She won the race in a thrilling and nail-biting finish," James told the Diary. "Most importantly, all the jockeys and horses finished the day safe and sound."

Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon presented trophies to everyone who participated in the race. "It was also a fantastic day to celebrate Organ Donor Awareness," James, himself the recipient of a donor kidney from his sister Catherine more than three decades ago, said,  "and the title name of the race says it all: Have the conversation — Say Yes to Organ Donation."

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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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Punchestown Charity Race set to top €2m for PKRF

The Punchestown Charity Race at the upcoming Punchestown Festival is expected to pass through the €2 million mark in total funds collected since it was founded in 1990 by Kilcullen's James Nolan, writes Brian Byrne. It will be the 34th running of the race, which supports the Punchestown Kidney Research Fund.

James was the recipient of a donated kidney from his sister Catherine in 1987 and has devoted much of his spare time since promoting and encouraging organ donations. After founding the race, he took part in it 13 times, winning it in 2002.

Twenty-two amateur jockeys have passed their fitness and competency assessments for this year's race. They include riders from counties Kildare, Clare, Longford, Cork, Limerick, Wexford, Wicklow and Down as well as participants from England, Wales, Italy and Poland.

During the past three years the PKRF sponsored and helped the Irish Kidney Association establish a Pilot Peer Support programme for all kidney patients in Ireland, supporting patients and their families who are dealing with issues and concerns related to being a dialysis or transplant patient. The James Tracy/PKRF/Kidney Beam Exercise programme was established to enable dialysis and transplant patients patients to access free specific exercise classes. The organisation also continued research into Polycystic Kidney Disease in partnership with the Irish Nephrology Society under the guidance of the Irish Research Council. 

Art Therapy programmes for dialysis patients in Tallaght, Waterford and Wexford Dialysis Units were supported, as were sports programmes for those on dialysis or with transplants. A trip to Lourdes for one dialysis patient and a carer was funded and PKRF sponsored a new Kidney App for patients in association with Dr Donal Sexton at St James’s Hospital.

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Sara Jane's race will show robust life after kidney transplant

A woman who received a kidney transplant in November 2021 will be one of the 25 jockeys in this year's 'Kidney Race' which traditionally ends the annual Punchestown Festival, writes Brian Byrne. Sara Jane Tracy was donated the kidney by her godfather Alex Tracy in an operation at Dublin's Beaumont Hospital. 

From Kill in Co Kildare, Sara Jane says Alex's selfless act marked the end of a challenging 5-year wait on the transplant list. "It catapulted me from severe illness to robust health," she says, adding that she's now committed to giving back to those who face similar challenges.

There were 74 applications from people for the 25 places in the 2024 race, initiated by James Nolan of Kilcullen more than three decades ago after his sister Catherine gave him the Gift of Life by donating a kidney to him. With the 33rd running imminent on Saturday 4 May 2024, the Punchestown Charity Race has raised more than €1.8 million for the various kidney-related projects supported by the Punchestown Kidney Research Fund.

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Total raised in 2022 Punchestown kidney charity race a record

Winning jockey Camilla Sharples and Amir Kabir.

The final total raised in the 2022 'Have the Conversation – Say YES to Organ Donation' Punchestown Charity Race held last April came to €115,502, writes Brian Byrne.

This brings the cumulative total in 31 years of running the race by the Punchestown Kidney Research Fund to €1,702,677, which is described by PKRF's founder and Director James Nolan as 'absolutely incredible'.

The race had been resumed after two years without being run because of the pandemic, and the €93,576 raised by the amateur jockeys was a record for the event.

In addition, James Nolan notes that Leinster & Ireland rugby player James Tracy raised an additional €21,926 from his February Freezebury Challenge.

"It was quite simply a phenomenal year for the Punchestown Kidney Research Fund," he says, expressing his thanks to everyone who has contributed to the PKRF in any small way at all. "This has helped us to support various projects which, in turn improves the quality of life for those patients living with kidney illness and also helps us to create positive Organ Donor Awareness in Ireland."

During the past year the PKRF the following projects:

• A pilot Peer Support Programme for all kidney patients in Ireland, offering vital supports to kidney patients and their families.

• Establishing the James Tracy/Kidney Beam Exercise program for all Dialysis and Transplant patients, which will enable all patients to access free, online, live and on demand exercise classes, specifically tailored to all different levels of fitness and specifically for kidney patients.

• Continued research into Polycystic Kidney Disease in partnership with the Irish Nephrology Society under the guidance of the Irish Research Council.

• Continued our support for the Art Therapy programs for Dialysis Patients in Tallaght and Waterford Dialysis Units.

• Continued our support for the Sports Programme for Dialysis and Transplant Patients.

• Organisation of a trip to Lourdes for one young Dialysis patient and a carer.

This year's race was won by Camilla Sharples on Amir Kabir, edging out home favourite Leona Hughes on Barbados in a thrilling finish.

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Thousands cheered amateur jockeys fundraising at Punchestown

Winning jockey Camilla Sharples and Amir Kabir.

The 31st running of the PKRF Charity Race took place at the 'Comeback' Punchestown National Hunt Racing Festival on Saturday 30th April in aid of the Punchestown Kidney Research Fund (PKRF). 

The crowds stayed on in their thousands to cheer on the 25 amateur riders in the final race of Ireland’s National Hunt Racing Festival and even the rain could not spoil this special day for all of the jockeys. There was a tangible buzz of excitement before the race that was matched by relief and joy after the race. "Despite the weather we had a huge crowd cheering us on last Saturday," says James Nolan from Kilcullen, who established the race more than three decades ago. "It was amazing to see the huge support Kilcullen man Paul Bell received from Kilcullen people, and also from St Laurences, Suncroft and other local clubs." 

The race was won by Camilla Sharples on Amir Kabir for Gordon Elliot, with local favourite Leona Hughes second and Aisling Noone third. Winner Camilla acknowledged the huge support that Gordon Elliot gives to the PKRF race every year and said winning was the thrill of a lifetime. 

Punchestown’s Leona Hughes with Andrew James Nolan.

Leona Hughes, who works on the team at Punchestown Racecourse, had a very vocal support group. She was elated to finish second and she was thrilled to see Punchestown Racecourse continue to support the The Charity Race and in turn promote Organ Donor Awareness. Aisling was also very happy to be third and said that it was amazing to see all 25 of the jockeys receive such a huge applause when they returned to the parade ring after the race in recognition what they had all achieved — especially local Kilcullen GAA star Paul Bell 

James stressed how important it was to thank all the owners, trainers, jockeys and supporters who made the 31st running of the PKRF Charity Race such a phenomenal success. All funds are not in yet, but he expects the event to have raised well in excess of €50,000 on Saturday. 

Kilcullen’s GAA star Paul Bell.

To Punchestown Racecourse and the 'Dream Team' that work there he also expressed his thanks for the 'unbelievable support' over the past 31 years."Congratulations to Camilla Sharples on her great win yesterday and to everyone who took part in our Kidney PKRF Charity Race."

Lastly, James thanked all the Dialysis and Transplant patients who were at Punchestown to support the Kidney Race. "They are what the Charity Race is all about and they provide the inspiration that keeps the Charity Race going every year."

In 2022 PKRF is looking forward to partnering with the Irish Kidney Association to set up a Pilot Peer Support Program to help kidney patients and their families. "We will set up a support network for those who are starting out on the road to Dialysis or looking at the possibility of a life-saving kidney transplant. This network will enable people to reach out and connect with a trained volunteer, to discuss their concerns about dialysis and transplantation."

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Into the next decade of the 'Kidney Race'

"If you had told me back in 1990, when the Punchestown Charity Race started, that we would be still running it in 2022 I would not have believed it was possible."

James Nolan remains bemused about the longevity of the fundraiser he initiated to acknowledge his appreciation for receiving a life-saving kidney donation, writes Brian Byrne, but is delighted that the event making its 31st running at the end of next week is still as strong as ever.

With 25 amateur 'first-timers' going under starter's orders for the last race of the Punchestown Festival on Saturday 30 April, it promises to be yet another strong finish for the Punchestown Kidney Research Fund, which has raised more than €1.6 million over more than three decades.

The race is named this year 'Have The Conversation – Say YES To Organ Donation', highlighting the key theme of the PKRF during Organ Donor Awareness Week 2022, which runs from April 23–30. "It's great to have the race back on the card after two years without it," James says, recalling that he rode himself in the first 13 stagings of the race, and even won it in 2002, on 50/1 shot Nero’s Dancer, 'which is a memory I will treasure forever'. "Punchestown Racecourse have been incredible supporters of the Charity for 33 years. We have been fortunate that all the owners and trainers have been kind enough to enter their horses in our 'Kidney Race' which enables our jockeys to experience the thrill of taking part at Ireland’s biggest National Hunt Racing Festival in front of 30,000 people."

Six of the jockeys in next week's race hail from County Kildare, with the others from Dublin, Wicklow, Roscommon, Wexford, Waterford, Meath, Galway and Tipperary, and two — Chloe Page and Patrick Chesters — coming in from England. Each rider has raised at least €1,500 in order to take part, and also have trained to qualify for their riding licence. Many of the horses they will ride represent some of the best racing stables in Ireland.

Punchestown racecourse staffer Leona Hughes will be on a horse provided by Jessica Harrington, a longtime supporter of the Charity Race and one of the inaugural riders herself in 1990. Camilla Sharples, Barry Nolan and Kay Bowe will represent the Elliott, Nolan and Bowe stables respectively, and other racing families will be there in the colours of Sarah Connell, Ava Banahan and Neil Durkan. Rider Cliona Costelloe's Dad, John Costelloe from the famous racing family in Clare, received a kidney transplant in a paired exchange in Belfast, so Cliona has a very personal reason for taking part. Cliona’s mother Grainne donated a kidney to the Paired Exchange Donor Pool, which enabled John to receive a transplant from another donor on the programme. 

Kilcullen’s Paul Bell won a Kildare County Football Championship earlier this year with 'The Rags' and he will enjoy local support from all the Kildare GAA supporters. Former professional boxer Michael Harty from Galway, and Cora Doyle from Tipperary — who recently ran a half-marathon in Berlin — are also up for the chase. 

The funds raised by the race down the decades have been used to improve the quality of life for patients on dialysis, to help provide a new renal unit at Temple Street Children’s Hospital in Dublin, and for projects which include research into renal failure and its treatment. 

"Because of the pandemic we had no major projects in 2020 and 2021, as we had no race," says James. "But in 2022 the PKRF is looking forward to partnering with the Irish Kidney Association to set up a Pilot Peer Support Program to help kidney patients and their families. Those starting out on the road to dialysis, or looking at the possibility of a life-saving kidney transplant, will be able to connect with a trained volunteer, to discuss their concerns."

In the meantime, James — whose donor kidney came from his sister Catherine — continues to quote the mantra that underpins the 'Gift of Life' which can be offered by everyone. "Have the conversation with your family, and say 'yes' to organ donation," he says, having acknowledged every day for the last 35 years what that same family conversation has meant to him.

A version of this article was published in this week's Kildare Nationalist.

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Local kidney charity's latest initiative announced

Kilcullen GAA's Paul Bell will be riding in this year's Punchestown Charity Race.

Today is World Kidney Day, and the Punchestown Kidney Research Fund founded by Kilcullen kidney transplant recipient James Nolan is taking the opportunity to announce a new initiative, writes Brian Byrne.

In partnership with the Irish Kidney Association, the PKRF is setting up a volunteer-led service to discuss concerns around kidney disease with people recently diagnosed.

"When people are initially given the diagnosis they go into a kind of shock and don't always take in what they are being told," says James, who is alive and well today thanks to receiving a donated kidney from his sister Catherine decades ago. "I have come across this many times, and it also applies to their families in many cases. So for some time in PKRF we have been looking how we can address it."

The service, which it is hoped to have up and running in the next six months, will provide a cadre of people living with kidney disease who are trained to talk with the newly diagnosed and answer all their questions and fears.

"It will require finding the right person to run the service, and then recruiting volunteers who will be properly trained in doing this," says James, who has championed the cause of organ donor awareness all his adult life.

Since it was founded, PKRF has provided a wide range of support activities for people living with kidney disease, raising some €1,570,000 to enable this. The Fund has supported many initiatives including the landmark project — a state of the art renal unit in Temple Street Children’s Hospital, contributed to the refurbishment of the dialysis unit at Sligo General Hospital, provides support to continuous research programmes and sponsored trips to ski camps for younger kidney patients.

The key PKRF fundraiser is the last race of the Punchestown Festival each year, a charity sweepstake where amateur riders raise sponsorship money. This year will be the 33rd anniversary of the race, on Saturday 30 April.

One of the riders will be Kilcullen man Paul Bell, who was a member of the Kilcullen GAA Senior Football Team that won the Junior County Championship earlier this year.

"It's great to have someone from Kilcullen in the race," says James Nolan. "Apart from working to be fit for the football, he was also taking the time to ride out and get his licence from the RACE riding apprentice school in Kildare."

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James Tracy's freezing fundraiser for PKRF

Pic: Leinster v Ospreys Programme.

Leinster Rugby Senior stalwart James Tracy has been getting strong support for his 'Freezbury' challenge in aid of the Punchestown Kidney Research Fund, dipping into the cold winter Irish Sea on every day through this month, writes Brian Byrne.

But it hasn't just been a quick daily dip and dash for the fund established by Kilcullen kidney transplant athlete James Nolan, Tracy has been lingering in the cold longer each session, for a minute for each number in the date. That means his stay in the storm-topped waves today will be 20 minutes long.

Tracy, born in Kill and who made his Leinster debut in 2012, was prompted to fundraise for the PKRF charity because his sister suffered kidney failure following rare complications from medicine to suppress her MS. The rugby player had a distant family connection to the work of PKRF, which he details in a profile in the Leinster v Ospreys official programme for the game played yesterday in the RDS Arena.

Noting that a relation is married to James Nolan's sister Catherine, who donated a kidney to James when he was 20, Tracy talks about the charity James subsequently founded. "Not a cent from it is used for anything apart from kidney research," the Leinster hooker is quoted in the article by Ryan Corry, "Looking after people, buying dialysis machines for people who need them so they can have a better quality of life. And then looking after people who are going through transplants or kidney failure or anything to do with kidney problems."

Tracy has had support from some team-mates while taking his fundraising dips, including Ryan Baird, Dan Leavy, Ferg McFadden, Scott Penny, Josh Murphy and James Lowe. At the time of this writing, the fund  has topped €8,000 with another eight days to go ... or a total left from after today of 196 minutes in the Irish Sea. "I have done a few days on my own, but it's really been an eye-opener of how lucky I am to have friends, family and team-mates who are all reaching out to me ... it'll all help raise awareness."

You can help James Tracy reach his fundraising target here (without necessarily getting into the sea yourself!). 

Pic: Leinster v Ospreys Programme.

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Another successful Punchestown Charity Race

The winner of the 30th Punchestown Charity Race last evening was Manomine, ridden by KA Kelly and trained by RK Watson, writes Brian Byrne.

There were 25 runners in the race, which was founded by Kilcullen businessman James Nolan to raise funds for kidney transplant and dialysis support.

More than a hundred people applied to take part in this year's event. The race has raised over €1.5m for the Punchestown Kidney Research Fund.

In the last two years the Fund has donated over €275,000 in various kidney related projects including €150,000 donated to open a new renal unit at Temple Street Children’s Hospital in Dublin, €100,000 committed to support two kidney related research projects under the guidance of the Irish Research Council, €20,000 committed to continue an Art Therapy programmes for Dialysis Patients in Tallaght and Waterford Dialysis Units, and €5,000 committed to the PKRF Sports Programme for Dialysis and Transplant Patients.

This year the Charity will sponsor a brand new Self Care Haemo Dialysis Facility at Tallaght Hospital, under Dr George Mellottee. The PKRF also hopes to support a major national event to promote Living Organ Donors in Ireland and will continue to support many other projects funded by the Charity Race.

The 10-year-old Manomine had an SP of 33/1. The UK-based horse is owned by the Big Five MS Syndicate.

Our picture shows James and Emma Nolan and their son Andrew James with all the riders before the race.

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