A Falcarragh woman who had life-saving dialysis has spoken of her pride after her husband completed his ‘unforgettable and life-affirming’ five-day 240-kilometre charity cycle for the Irish Kidney Association.
Peter Conboy completed his incredible journey with a dialysis machine in tow across the country arriving on a wet windy day to a rapturous reception at the symbolic Circle of Life National Commemorative Garden for Organ Donors in Salthill, Galway on Sunday last.
Peter, from Ballygar on the Galway – Roscommon border began his remarkable Cycle of Life journey at Temple Street Children’s Hospital in Dublin, on Wednesday last where his wife Liz Ferry’s kidney journey also started on dialysis when she was a teen, and fittingly concluded at a Garden honouring organ donors, grateful for the gift of life she received 22 years ago.
Despite the tiredness and being wet and cold, Peter was elated as he was greeted with a warm embrace by Donegal woman Liz and a rousing reception in the garden, with family, friends, and supporters including locals and members of the Galway Branch of the Irish Kidney Association.
Speaking in Salthill, Liz said, “I am so proud of Peter, he is an inspiration. When he first mentioned to me about doing this, I thought the challenge was so perfect for Peter, and something he would do with conviction and that it would have a big impact. His Cycle of Life this week has sparked so much conversation along the way about organ donation.
“Having the visual of the physical dialysis machine has given people a better understanding of the impact of being tied to a dialysis machine. When I was a young patient, a teenager, I faced an uncertain future and my confidence was shaken. While on dialysis for 11 hours a night, I often wondered what my future would hold.
“The gift of a donor’s kidney less than a year later gave me a future most people take for granted. And that future included meeting the love of my life Peter. I’m 22 years transplanted and I am living life to the full. The donor family will always hold a special place in my heart and I will be forever grateful to them.
“They have given me so much to look forward to. Peter’s Cycle of Life is his way of honouring their thoughtful gift”.
Greeting them also was Martina Goggin, who along with her husband Denis, who are responsible for the the creation of the Circle of Life National Commemorative Garden for organ donors, having themselves had to face the heartbreaking decision after losing their son but giving life to others through his organ donation. Undeterred by the wet and windy weather, those attending celebrated the end of Peter’s symbolic journey that not only raised funds for the charity but also significantly heightened organ donor awareness.
The journey concluded just a few miles away from the Galway racing festival in Ballybrit, which also ended on the same day, drawing a powerful comparison between the speed of racing horses and Peter’s slower journey powered by sheer determination and a meaningful cause.
Throughout the five days Cycle of Life, Peter was greeted with goodwill and support in every town he passed through. Locals, children, adults, and volunteer members of the Irish Kidney Association welcomed him warmly, spending hours engaging with him. This unique spectacle of a bicycle pulling along a large, decommissioned dialysis machine, supplied by B. Braun, generated significant interest and awareness about organ donation, as donor cards were distributed, experiences shared, and countless photos taken.
Day 1 began with sunny skies at Temple Street Children’s Hospital where Prof. Atif Awan met Peter and his wife Liz, (from Falcarragh in Donegal), a former patient of the paediatric consultant.
Day 2 and 3 were similarly sunny as Peter travelled along the scenic banks of the Royal and Grand canal lines and made steady progress stopping over in Maynooth at Manor Mill Shopping Centre on Day 1 before Day 2 when approaching his second stop at the Joe Dolan statue in Mullingar, he was joined for the spin by Westmeath man Eddie Flood, the Chairman of the Irish Kidney Association, himself a kidney transplant recipient.
Day 3 marked the start of more challenging weather conditions with downpours and fierce wind causing Peter’s cart with dialysis machine to topple over. Fortunately, Peter and some volunteers could take refuge at the Golden Island Shopping Centre in Athlone where they set up their information stall and distributed organ donor cards, and balloons for the kids. Day 4 was a case of two halves with the second half far the most arduous day. For the first part, Peter was joined by friends Sean Kenny and Shane Sorohan traveling on the primary roads, with Liz driving right behind them ensuring their safety and visibility towards Ballinasloe, where they stopped for a few hours creating a lot of excitement outside Gullane’s Hotel and he received a generous donation of €500 from the local credit union. However, it was the unforgiving road towards Loughrea which was uphill all the way that tested Peter’s resolve and would be challenging for even the most seasoned cyclists, but he pushed through and arrived at the Fair Green in Loughrea nearly eleven hours after starting that morning just after 7am.
On Day five, on the penultimate stretch from Loughrea to Oranmore, there was very welcome support from Justin Whyte and a group of other cyclists from Sevens Springs Cycling Club who cycled in front of Peter to break the impact of the strong winds, making Peter’s peddling less challenging. Then on the final stretch another welcome cyclist Eoin Ryan, from Salthill, who like Peter is also married to a transplant recipient, joined him with Eoin’s six-year-old son Dylan and father and sons bikes linked together. They reached the symbolic Circle of Life garden at 11am, where they were greeted by their wives and a rousing cheer and warm welcome by family, friends and supporters and members of the Galway Branch of the Irish Kidney Association.
Before undertaking the challenge, despite not being a seasoned long-distance cyclist and balancing his job at Irish Water and part-time sheep farming, Peter was determined to complete the 240 km, five-day journey along the canal line, greenway and primary roads.
Reflecting on the journey as he arrived at the Circle of Life Garden, Peter said, “This experience was about far more than the physical challenge. It was about being visible and raising awareness for a cause that is deeply personal to me. The support and interest we received along the way were nothing short of incredible. The goodwill and stories shared with us were deeply moving. I’m profoundly grateful to everyone who helped and supported us, especially my wife Liz, who followed along for most of the journey.
“The journey has been unforgettable and life-affirming! What struck me most in meeting literally hundreds of people were how many have been touched by kidney failure, or some other organ failure, or organ donation in some way. Many had a family member or friend who needed a transplant or knew someone who had donated a loved one’s organs. One of those donors gave Liz her life and formative years back. Between 600 to 700 organ donor cards were given out along the way, and if even half of those people continue to carry those cards and have the conversation about their wishes regarding organ donation, it will lead to lives being saved. If that happens, this journey will have made a profound and lasting impact, bringing hope and life to those in desperate need.”
“Having the dialysis machine in tow helped reinforce what patients really go through. It was an attraction that many people had never seen, yet thousands depend on this treatment to keep them alive, not knowing when or if a transplant will come along. I am grateful for the Irish Kidney Association which advocates for and supports these patients and their families and their journey and to all the nursing and medical professionals who work with patients in organ failure, transplantation, and organ donation. I hope the funds raised will help the Irish Kidney Association continue supporting patients and their families while also raising organ donor awareness and giving hope to the hundreds of people on transplant waiting lists.”
Carol Moore, Chief Executive of the Irish Kidney Association, said, “Along with all the volunteers in our branches in Galway, Westmeath, Kildare and Dublin, who came out in different towns along the route to support Peter, are immensely proud of him and all he has achieved with this incredible journey. His dedication and perseverance have not only raised essential funds but also significantly increased awareness about organ donation. By sharing his and his wife’s story, Peter has touched the lives of many and inspired conversations that will save lives. We thank him, Liz, and everyone who supported this remarkable endeavour.”
Braun kindly provided the decommissioned dialysis machine to Peter.
In advance of Peter’s challenge,Liam Ferguson, Managing Director, B. Braunsaid, “B. Braun is delighted to provide Peter with a decommissioned dialysis device to accompany him on his epic cycle from Dublin to Galway. A creative way to raise valuable funds and awareness for an outstanding charity. With three community-based renal care centres across Ireland, we know firsthand that life-sustaining dialysis treatment is a journey in itself for both patients and their families. We wish Peter every success on his journey.”
Peter is fundraising for the Irish Kidney Association (IKA) to support the registered charity’s work in providing crucial assistance to patients and families affected by end-stage kidney disease. The charity also promotes the organ donor card and the vital importance of organ donation. www.ika.ie
To support this worthy cause, you can donate to Peter’s online iDonate Cycle of Life fundraiser www.idonate.ie/fundraiser/cycleoflife
Social media posts on his journey can be seen on Facebook @Cycle of Life and @irishkidneyassociation and Instagram @cycleoflife24 and @irishkidneyas and the Galway IKA branch Facebook.
Becoming an organ donor is a simple process: carry a donor card, note your consent on your driving license, or set up the organ donor app on your phone but most importantly Share Your Wishes with your loved ones.
