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A Movement of Hope – 100+ Women Unite for IKA in VHI Marathon
More than 100 women from 22 counties will proudly represent the Irish Kidney Association (IKA) in this year’s VHI Women’s Mini Marathon on Sunday, May 31st. This comes just one week after Organ Donor Awareness Week which is organised by the IKA.
Many of the women will start to gather at the Iveagh Gardens Hotel, Harcourt Street, at 9.15am for a continental breakfast followed by a pre-race photocall before joining tens of thousands taking to the streets of Dublin for the annual event. Proudly wearing the charity’s bright yellow IKA t-shirts, they are supporting a cause deeply personal to them while raising awareness of organ donation and kidney disease.
The women taking part are united by connections to kidney disease, organ failure or donation. For some, the day is about giving back for the support the IKA provided during difficult times. Others are running in honour of loved ones who have passed away from kidney failure, or to honour organ donors who have given them or a loved one the gift of life, while many are walking or jogging their first mini-marathon simply to soak up the incredible atmosphere alongside thousands of other women taking part in the capital.
The IKA’s small army of women represent many different experiences of kidney disease and organ donation – from transplant recipients and living donors to dialysis patients, healthcare workers and families supporting loved ones through treatment and loss.
Among the charity’s participants are women currently undergoing dialysis treatment themselves, mothers supporting children awaiting transplants, living organ donors, transplant recipients honouring their donors and families remembering loved ones lost to kidney disease. Participants have travelled from across the country, from Kerry to Kilkenny, Roscommon to Dublin, united by a shared determination to raise awareness and support the work of the Irish Kidney Association.
Ranging in age and running experience, they have already formed a close-knit support network through an IKA WhatsApp group, where they share training updates, fundraising milestones and personal stories – building a community rooted in encouragement, friendship and girl power.
Among those taking part in support of the IKA and organ donor awareness are:
Cecile McInerney, Bayside, Dublin 13, supporting her partner Yan, who is awaiting a kidney transplant
Maria McLaughlin (age 24), from Bundoran, Co Donegal. Inspired by her 47 year old mother’s long battle with chronic kidney disease, now on haemodialysis at Sligo University Hospital she in the Mini Marathon to support the IIKA and raise awareness about the importance of organ donation. Working as a healthcare assistant on a specialist nephrology ward at the same hospital her mother attends for dialysis, she sees firsthand the impact kidney disease has on people’s lives every day.
Michelle Moore, from Baltinglass, Co Wicklow – running in gratitude for the transplant her husband Mark received in April 2025, thanks to a deceased donor, after 4 and a half years of dialysis treatment.
Niamh Dowling, Deansgrange, Co. Dublin – taking part having returned to dialysis treatment following a transplant she received many years ago.
Clare Walsh from Dublin 4, chose to fundraise for the IKA because of the support her family received as her brothers underwent a living donor kidney transplant.
Jessie Doyle, a Mullingar native, now living in Santry, Dublin will be taking part in the marathon for the second time, having taken part in it last year also. She received a successful transplant in 2015, but her resilience was tested again in 2022 when an acute kidney injury placed her back on the transplant list. She received her second life-changing transplant in 2023.
Alanna Kennedy, from Monkstown, Dublin. Diagnosed suddenly with kidney failure at 22 during the height of COVID, she spent three years on dialysis before receiving a life-changing transplant in 2023 when she was 24. Now enjoying a renewed lease of life, she is taking part in the Mini Marathon for the third year since her transplant to support the Irish Kidney Association and raise awareness of the power of organ donation.
Roscommon friends Denise Cunningham from Knockcroghery and Amanda Flynn, from Fuerty, and now living in Athenry, Galway, are running for the IKA to support loved ones affected by kidney disease and in gratitude for the transplants they received. Denise’s friend underwent a kidney transplant last year and Amanda’s brother underwent a kidney transplant in January this year.
Priscilla O’Connor and her sister Rose Fay from Cookstown Road, Tallaght, Dublin 24 – will be walking the 10km route in support of Priscilla’s husband John, who commenced dialysis treatment a month before.
Cllr. Claire Byrne from Dublin 8 is supporting her friend and mother of two Valerie Coyne Dalton, a native of Douglas, Cork living in Dublin, who is on the kidney transplant waiting list.
Aimee Quinn, Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny is supporting her friend and mother of two Valerie Coyne Dalton, a native of Douglas, Cork living in Dublin, who is on the kidney transplant waiting list.
Andriena Perez, Carrickmines, Dublin – kidney transplant recipient taking part in her second Mini Marathon.
Rhona Gardiner, Dromahair, Co. Leitrim – honouring her late father, who enjoyed 30 years with a transplanted kidney until he passed away in 2025.
Tracey Walsh, from Enniskeane, Co Cork – her father was a dialysis patient for nearly eight years and sadly passed away in 2017 aged 70 years.
Olive from Mullingar, Co. Westmeath – Olive’s brother has been receiving dialysis for the past four years.
Grace Craig, from Mullingar, Co. Westmeath – her uncle has been receiving dialysis for the past four years
The Irish Kidney Association (IKA) wishes all the ladies taking part for the Irish Kidney Association, along with the thousands of others stepping out in the VHI Women’s Mini Marathon this Sunday, for causes close to their hearts, a wonderful and inspiring day.
Each participant will receive a goodie bag of sponsored items, and the IKA wishes to thank Irish award-winning brand FARO for its generous sponsorship of Ultimate Gift Sets, as well as Revive Active and the Iveagh Garden Hotel for their support.
To find out more, visit the IKA’s webpage www.ika.ie/minimarathon/ where you can read some of the inspiring stories shared by the participants.
