John Cunningham is an Irish Kidney Association charity runner taking part in the Irish Life Dublin Marathon on Sunday, 27th October.

Here is his story:

John Cunningham is a living donor from Belfast who, in October 2023, donated one of his kidneys.

To commemorate the one-year anniversary of his surgery, John has decided to run his first marathon.

Since his donation, John has become an active member of Transplant Sport Northern Ireland and even represented Northern Ireland at the British Transplant Games in Nottingham.

"The Games are organised on behalf of Transplant Sport whose aim is to raise awareness of the need for organ donation, encourage transplant recipients to lead active lifestyles and show appreciation for, and remember their donors and their families."

John's journey is not just about his personal achievements but also about spreading awareness on the importance of organ donation.

"For me as a donor, being healthy and active was a big part of being a good candidate to donate and no doubt helped with a quick recovery."

You can donate to John’s fundraiser at https://eventmaster.ie/fundraising/pages/JC77658450