Charity cycle to say 'thank you' after Donegal wife received life-saving transplant

A Donegal woman who received a life-saving transplant 20 years ago will cheer on her husband in a charity cycle across the country.

Peter Conboy from Ballygar, Galway, has experience of chronic kidney disease because of his wife Liz (Elizabeth) Ferry, a native of Falcarragh.

Diagnosed at 13, Liz became a patient at Temple Street Children’s Hospital, and she endured peritoneal dialysis at home for six nights a week, for 11 hours at a time, until a donor kidney became available less than a year later. She underwent her life-changing kidney transplant at Beaumont Hospital in May 2002.

“As a young teenager, facing an uncertain future with chronic renal disease was incredibly tough,” she said. “My confidence was shaken, and I often wondered what my future would hold. The gift of a donor's kidney gave me a future that most people take for granted. It allowed me to meet the love of my life and share a wonderful life with Peter.”

Peter will embark on a remarkable five-day 240 km distance charity Cycle of Life from Wednesday, July 31, starting at 10.30 am from Temple Street Children’s Hospital in Dublin, where Liz was a patient more than two decades before.

His journey will end at the National Commemorative Garden for organ donors in Salthill, Galway. Unlike other long-distance charity rides, the Galway native will tow a dialysis machine, supplied by B. Braun, symbolising the journey of patients on dialysis towards the hope of a life-saving transplant. This extraordinary endeavour aims to raise awareness and funds (through Peter’s iDonate Cycle of Life) for the Irish Kidney Association (IKA) and spark conversations about the critical importance of organ donation. You can donate here.

Peter’s route will take him east to west along the banks of the Royal Canal, Grand Canal, and the Midlands Greenway and from Athlone onwards along primary and secondary roads to his final destination, the Circle of Life National Commemorative Garden for organ donors in Salthill, Galway around midday.

Along the way, he’ll be stopping off in the towns of Maynooth, Mullingar, Athlone, Ballinasloe, and Loughrea to rally support for his cause before the final leg of his journey, from Loughrea to Galway, on Sunday, August 4. The poignant destination at the Circle of Life Garden highlights the significance of his mission, especially considering his personal connection to the cause.

Peter’s arrival at the symbolic Garden in Salthill is his way of honouring the family of Liz’s donor, who made the admirable decision to donate their loved one’s organs 22 years ago, granting Liz a successful and long-lasting kidney transplant.

Reflecting on this, Peter explained: “This was the first chapter in a new life for Liz, enabling her to complete her college degree, travel the world, marry me, and enjoy life to the full. None of this would have been possible without the selfless decision made by her donor’s family. We are eternally grateful.”

Despite not being a seasoned long-distance cyclist and balancing a full-time job with Irish Water and sheep farming duties, Peter is determined to complete the 240 km, five-day journey. Speed isn't the goal; the importance lies in being visible and raising awareness throughout his journey and meeting people en route and in some towns along the way.

The final leg coincides with the last day of the week-long Galway Races, drawing a powerful comparison between the speed of racing horses and Peter’s slower journey powered by sheer determination and a meaningful cause.

Peter will be greeted in towns along the route by IKA branch volunteers. There is expected to be a lively welcoming party to celebrate the completion of his challenge in Salthill including family, friends, supporters, and IKA Galway branch volunteers as well as Martina Goggin, who along with her husband Denis, was the brainchild for the creation of the Circle of Life Commemorative Garden. Cycling with Peter on the last stretch from Oranmore will be Eoin Ryan, whose wife Michelle Geraghty is also a kidney transplant recipient living in Salthill.

“I’d love for people to come out to meet me in the towns I stop in along the way, or give me a wave if they see me, but most of all I hope I will remind people to support the work of the Irish Kidney Association and also to share their wishes about organ donation,” Peter said.

“I encourage everyone to carry a donor card, note their consent on your driving license with code 115, or set up the organ donor app on your phone.”