Robbie England, from Co. Kildare, was diagnosed with Chronic Kidney Disease in 2005 at the age of 20. After his kidney function declined, he began dialysis in 2019, and underwent nighttime dialysis for three years until he received the ultimate gift of life through a kidney transplant from his brother Mark. Since then Robbie has continued to enjoy sport and proudly represented Ireland in the European Transplant Games in 2024. Now up for the next challenge, he is set to run in the Dublin Marathon while fundraising for the Irish Kidney Association.
In 2005, when I was 20 years old, I was diagnosed with Chronic Kidney Disease. Over time, my kidney function gradually decreased, and by 2019, it had dropped so low that I had to start dialysis. Fortunately, I was able to undergo dialysis at home during nighttime, which allowed me to continue working and maintain a relatively normal life.
After three years on dialysis, I received a life-changing kidney transplant from my brother, Mark. I will be forever grateful to him for the gift of life he has given me. Before the transplant, I had very little energy and was on a very restricted diet. In the three years since the transplant, I have felt healthier than ever, full of energy, and my wife, Gillian, and I welcomed our beautiful son, Conor, into the world. Starting a family was something I did not think would be possible before the transplant.
Sport has always been a passion of mine and has helped keep me healthy throughout my journey with kidney disease. Last year, I had the great opportunity to represent Ireland in the European Transplant Games. This was an incredible event that truly highlighted the importance of organ donation. All the competitors embodied the significance of kidney donation by living their lives to the fullest and honouring their donors.
I am running the marathon for the Irish Kidney Association because they have supported me throughout my 20-year journey with kidney disease. The IKA does amazing work supporting those with kidney disease, those on dialysis, and those who have received transplants. By running the marathon, I also hope to raise awareness of the importance of organ donation and encourage more people to discuss becoming organ donors. I was very fortunate to have a brother who was a match, but not everyone is as lucky as I am.
I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Professor Catherine Wall and her amazing team at Tallaght Hospital for all their support through my journey with kidney disease, and the transplant team at Beaumont Hospital for their great care and kindness during my transplant journey.
