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13 March 2025
World
Kidney Day
IKA Raising Awareness For World Kidney Day – Are Your Kidneys Ok?
Did you know that 1 in 10 people in Ireland and 1 in 7 over the age of 50 are living with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) – and 98% of them have no idea?
CKD is now on course to become the fifth leading cause of death by 2040.
As part of World Kidney Day 2025 which is celebrated on Thursday 13th March this year, the Irish Kidney Association (IKA) is launching its national campaign ‘1 in 10 People’ to highlight the often-silent threat of kidney disease and the need to take action now to reduce the risk of kidney failure and its serious consequences.
Fundraising Resources
Download posters for your fundraiser.
Kidney Health Public Awareness Resources
Download posters and social media resources.
World Kidney Day Webinar
13 March 2025
7pm – 8.30pm
Supported by ALDI
ALDI once again supported the Irish Kidney Association this World Kidney Day. Our Branch led volunteers collected in ALDI stores across the country on Saturday 8th March.
Dedicate A Flower In Our Forget-Me-Not Garden
Support the Irish Kidney Association this World Kidney Day by dedicating a flower in our Forget-Me-Not Garden.
Choose your flower, add your own special message and photograph if you wish. You can share the garden with your friends and family and together we can make the garden bloom.
Thank you for your support. Every donation will help us to be there for kidney patients and their families when they need us.
How to dedicate a flower
Visit our Forget-Me-Not Garden: Go online to see messages on our virtual garden.
Choose Your Flower: Pick a flower to buy and choose its colour. While a default €15 contribution appears, no minimum contribution is required to leave a message.
Personalise Your Flower: Add a message or dedication to your flower. Whether honouring someone, celebrating, wishing health, or sharing goodwill, your message appears with your flower. You can even include a photo!
Spread the Word: Share the Forget-Me-Not Garden with others and encourage them to leave a message too. Send an e-Card from the page to share your contribution!
Chronic Kidney Disease affects 1 in 10 people
What Is Chronic Kidney Disease?
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a long-term condition where your kidneys do not work as well as they should.
Whilst it is approximately 1 in 1,000 of the national population who develop End Stage Kidney Disease, (requiring dialysis or a kidney transplant), a report published in Ireland in October 2023, stated that 1 in 10 of the general population, and 1 in 7 of people over the age of 50, have Chronic Kidney Disease but 98% are unaware of it.
Why is it important?
Chronic Kidney Disease is a risk factor for developing the following:
On its current trajectory, Chronic Kidney Disease is expected to be the 5th leading cause of death internationally by 2040.
What should you do?
We are encouraging the public, particularly those in the at risk groups, to discuss their kidney health with their GP. Kidney function can be checked by simple blood/urine tests.
In The Media
Listen back to interviews with the Irish Kidney Association for the #1in10 campaign.
Claremorris Community Radio
Athlone Community Radio
Highland Radio
Webinar Presentations
We All Have Kidney Numbers. Do You Know Yours?
Learn more about Chronic Kidney Disease.
Are You A Healthcare Professional?
Learn more about early detection and diagnosis.
10 – 17 May 2025
Organ Donor Awareness Week
Don’t Leave Your Loved Ones In Doubt
Get An Organ Donor Card
Start the conversation with an Organ Donor Card.
Planning An Event?
Share details of your organ donor awareness event.
Awareness Resource
Download posters and social media templates.
Why Is Organ Donor Awareness Week Important To You?
We asked the speakers at the Organ Donor Awareness Week launch the question “Why Is Organ Donor Awareness Week Important To You?”
#LeaveNoDoubt
This year’s Organ Donor Awareness Week campaign is built around the theme ‘Don’t Leave Your Loved Ones in Doubt!’
The key message is that members of the public can play their part in supporting organ donation for transplantation by ensuring that their families are not left in any doubt about their wishes around organ donation. i.e., they ‘have the conversation’. Sharing your wishes when you are in good health makes it a less stressful decision for your family in the event of them being approached about you being a potential organ donor.
At any one time in Ireland there are between 550 and 600 people active on waiting lists for organ transplants including heart, lung, liver, kidney, and pancreas. They are all waiting on the ‘Gift of Life’.
Ideas to Get Involved
We can supply ‘Don’t Leave Your Loved Ones In Doubt’ posters and organ donor cards for your Organ Donor Awareness Week event. Let us know about your event by filling out our questionnaire.
Coffee Morning
Organise a group of people to come together with some refreshments and time to chat in a casual and relaxed setting.
A Walk or Run
Get some fresh air while you walk or run and talk to others who relate to your experience. Make sure to hydrate and have a chat afterwards!
Lunch Break
Have a catch up with your colleagues in the break room. Spread awareness in the workplace as well as giving your work friends more information.
Arts-Based Event
Host an event where people can
express their feelings about organ donation in a creative way.
Community Group
Add an event to your next agenda, whether you take part in a running group, a book club, a religious group, a golf club etc.
At School or University
Talk to your local students’ union or teacher and include an event in your timetable, in the canteen or assembly hall.
Photo Display Event
Display photos which show the impact of organ donation e.g. transplant/athlete winning a medal, a family celebration etc.
Online
Host a virtual event for people who cannot attend or loved ones living far away, or who feel safer meeting online.
Quiz Night
Host a quiz night in your community with some questions about organ donation to spread awareness in a fun and creative way!
Supported by An Post
An Post are once again supporting Organ Donor Awareness Week by displaying posters and Organ Donor Cards in branches around the country. Pick up yours on your next visit!
Organ Donor Awareness Week 2025
Organ Donation In Ireland
Learn more about the process and benefits of organ donation.
Recognising Misinformation
Stay informed by recognising and avoiding misinformation about organ donation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Explore FAQs covering Organ Donation, Transplantation, and Organ Donor Cards.
Organ Donation & Transplant Ireland
ODTI is the national service overseeing organ donation and transplantation in Ireland.
About The Irish Kidney Association
The Irish Kidney Association is a charitable voluntary organisation founded in 1978.
The prime role of the Irish Kidney Association is to support patients and their families effected by end stage kidney disease and are either being treated by dialysis or have a working kidney transplant.
Downloadable Resources
Posters
A4 Poster (English)
A4 Poster (As Gaeilge)
A4 Poster (Polish)
A4 Poster (Yoruba)
#LeaveNoDoubt sign
Digital Screens and Social Media
Digital Screen (1080 x 1920 version)
Digital Screen (1920 x 1080 version)
Social Media (Square)
Educational Resources
Run Your Own Organ Donor Awareness Event
Education Pack (developed by Eureka Secondary School)
Talking about Organ Donation and Transplantation
Current versus New Organ Donation System
DONOR CARDS
Read The Facts About Organ Donation
EDUCATION PACK
Our School Education Pack
IKA MEMBER
Join the Irish Kidney Association
ORGAN DONATION
Organ Donation & Transplant Ireland
get in touch
GET IN TOUCH, WE’D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU!
Here at the IKA we’re more than happy to assist you with anything you might need. If you’ve got any questions or concerns then please feel free to use the contact form to send us a message.
Alternatively, please fill out the contact form below, and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.
Call
(+353) 01 620 5306
Follow us
E-Mail
info@ika.ie
Address
Irish Kidney Association, Donor House, Block 43A, Park West, Dublin 12, D12 P5V6