25 years and counting…
Giving is not just about making a donation. It is about making a difference.
The Children’s Kidney Fund Northern Ireland will celebrate its 25th anniversary on 16 November 2024 by hosting an event at Belfast City Hall for everyone who has been involved with and supported by the charity.
To mark this magnificent milestone we want to showcase how we continue to assist patients and their families who have been affected by renal disease across the country.
For a quarter of a century, the charity has been managed exclusively by volunteers and a group of trustees. This group is made up of former patients, parents, and medical staff including a nurse specialist, social worker, consultant nephrologists and a professor who is a retired nephrologist.
Despite their busy day jobs all of the charity volunteers make time to provide support and direct the services required to add value. They also try to provide moral, mental and financial support to those families who are being challenged due to having a sick child.
It is no surprise that we are experiencing the most challenging times, in terms of resources in both equipment and staff, due to the significant financial challenges being experienced within the health sector. As a charity we find ourselves purchasing equipment, funding events, and financially supporting our families.
We have no paid staff so are proud to state that every penny that is donated to the charity is used exclusively to improve the lives of all children across Northern Ireland who have been impacted by renal disease. We are a regional centre and therefore the only medical centre that treats children in NI with renal disease.
Our 25th anniversary presents us with an opportunity to celebrate the work of the charity. We have upgraded our website and are producing a promotional video with some of our patients to increase a greater public awareness of the need for organ donation.
We will be supported by our patron Stephen Watson from BBC Sport who is a transplant recipient himself. Stephen loves to share his experience and encourages patients during their most vulnerable periods on their journey to receiving a new organ.
His passion for the promotion of organ donation has enhanced our profile and generated significant income. During our 25th celebrations Stephen will be to the fore to ensure we capitalise on our opportunities and that we maximise the potential we have to enrich the lives of patients and their families.