Falcarragh woman's pride in husband after five-day 240-kilometre charity cycle

A Falcarragh woman who received a life-saving transplant has expressed pride in her husband after he cycled a five-day 240-kilometre charity cycle for the Irish Kidney Association with a dialysis machine in tow.

Peter Conboy from Ballygarr, Co Galway, began his remarkable Cycle of Life journey at Temple Street Children’s Hospital in Dublin, on Wednesday last, where his wife - Liz Ferry from Falcarragh - started kidney dialysis when she was a teen.

He fittingly concluded at the Commemorative Garden for Organ Donors in Salthill, Galway, 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 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. To support this worthy cause, you can donate to Peter’s online iDonate Cycle of Life fundraiser here.

“I am so proud of Peter, he is an inspiration,” Liz said in Salthill. “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”.

Throughout the five-day 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.

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 would 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."

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