Athlone stroke survivor, author and charity fundraiser Carrie Minagh is joining forces with the Westmeath Branch of the Irish Kidney Association (IKA) for the first time to organise the third annual charity walk, taking place on Sunday, 11th October at 2pm at the Athlone Regional Sports Centre.

The family event, which Carrie launched three years ago following her own recovery from a brain aneurysm and stroke, has become an annual opportunity to bring people together while raising funds for worthy causes.

This year sees a new collaboration with the Westmeath Branch of the Irish Kidney Association (IKA), with 60% of the proceeds going to the IKA, while the remaining 40% will be divided equally between the two charities that benefited from the fundraiser in its first two years – CroÍ and the Irish Heart Foundation.

An online fundraising link has been set up for people who wish to support it www.idonate.ie/westmeathbranchika.

A host of local transplant recipients will also be taking part in the walk, and the organisers are encouraging the public to join them. The event is open to people of all ages and fitness levels, with participants welcome to walk, jog or run the 5km course at their own pace. It promises to be a life-affirming day celebrating recovery, transplantation and the gift of life.
Among the local transplant recipients taking part will be former Athlone and Westmeath footballer John Egan, who will share his inspiring journey at the event. John received a living donor kidney transplant in November 2021 after living with kidney disease and undergoing dialysis. Since his transformational transplant, John has married Traci and the couple who live in Monksland are now proud parents to three young girls, Bella (3½) and twins Romy and Ellie (9 months). John’s story is a powerful example of the new chapter that transplantation can bring.

John will speak at the event about his experience and the profound impact his transplant has had on his life and his family. He will be joined in the walk by fellow transplant recipients from Westmeath, including Athlone locals Jack Cunniffe, Cathy Smyth, Ronan Mulvihill and Cian Brennan from Mullingar. Carrie will also participate in the walk and say a few words about her own health experience and the journey that led her to establish the annual walk.

Brian Mulvihill, who has recently taken on the voluntary role of Secretary of the Westmeath Branch of the Irish Kidney Association, has first-hand experience of the impact that kidney disease, dialysis and transplantation can have on a patient and their family as his son Ronan (age 29) received a deceased donor kidney transplant last year. Also, from the Westmeath IKA branch supporting the organisation of the event are locals Jack Cunniffe, Chairman of the Westmeath IKA Branch, who underwent a deceased donor kidney transplant in late 2023, Cathy Smyth who received a deceased donor kidney transplant in 2014, and Cian Brennan from Mullingar, Treasurer of the Westmeath IKA branch who received a living donor kidney transplant from his aunt in April 2025, along with local Cllr. John Dolan, who required prolonged rehabilitation following a cardiac arrest in 2017.

The participation of Carrie, along with local transplant recipients John Egan, Jack, Cathy, Ronan, and Cian, and fellow transplant recipients and their family members taking part gives this year’s event a very special message – celebrating the gift of life. It is about people who have faced life-changing health experiences, the generosity of donors, the support of families, friends and patient advocacy charities, and the opportunity to move forward and make the most of a second chance and living every day to the full.

Carrie’s own experience is at the heart of the event. Following a brain aneurysm and stroke in 2014, she embarked on a long road to recovery, a journey she has recently documented in her book, Carrie’s Story, which she launched earlier this month. Her experience inspired her to establish the annual walk as a way of giving back and supporting others.

The annual walk grew from Carrie’s desire to turn her experience into something positive and to raise awareness and money for causes that make a real difference to people’s lives.

The 2.5km walking track at Athlone Regional Sports Centre will be completed twice to make the full 5km, with participants welcome to walk, jog or run at their own pace.

Carrie and the Westmeath IKA branch extend their sincere thanks to Athlone Regional Sports Centre for supporting the event and providing the facilities for what promises to be a special day of community, enjoyable activity and fundraising for three important causes.