This March, an incredible Tipperary woman is undergoing an exciting virtual challenge to celebrate the first anniversary of her kidney transplant, raise awareness of organ donation, and celebrate the fundraising of the Irish Kidney Association, which supported her throughout her journey at www.idonate.ie/fundraisers/alisonfogarty/.
Starting on Thursday, March 6th, culminates in World Kidney Day on March 13th, 48-year-old Allison Fogerty McCarthy will walk 180 kilometers from Tipperary's hometown to Beaumont Hospital in Dublin.
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Her journey ends at sunset with the historic rocks of cachel illuminated in purple, one of the distinctive colors of the Irish Kidney Association.
In the first seven days, Allison walks nearly 25km daily, primarily within the local area, including the running track, the picturesque Glen of Ahero and Dundrum Woods.
Allison decided to give back and raise awareness, planning it as a homage to both her donor and kidney charity, and to both the kidney charity who provided valuable support throughout her journey.
This walk not only raises funds for charities, but also highlights the importance of organ donation and kidney health. Allison encourages her to join her in every part of her challenge over the course of eight days.
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Allison's lifelong journey with health challenges included a diagnosis of butter syndrome at age 10, so she spent three months at Krumlin Children's Hospital, separated from her parents and siblings who felt very isolated.
This diagnosis occurred after other conditions including the exclusion of leukemia and Crohn's disease. Balther syndrome is a rare autoimmune condition that causes potassium loss by the kidneys, causing painful convulsions and other severe symptoms.
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Growing up, Allison went in and out of hospitals for much of her childhood and missed many schools due to her condition. She also faces a variety of other health challenges, including gout, swelling joints, and failing kidney transplants.
In 2015, after only six months of dialysis treatment, Allison received a kidney transplant from a deceased donor. However, just a week later, her world was turned over as the transplant failed due to an arterial thrombosis and was unable to save the donor kidney.
The devastation of losing a transplant has brought a great emotional toll on Allison. “I blamed myself. I know that there's nothing I can do, rationally,” she explained.
“I felt a great deal of disappointment and sadness for the kidney donor. The pain of this loss was overwhelming and it took me four years to accept being brought back to the waiting list for the transplant.
Despite many obstacles, Allison's resolve has grown. “I always told myself I wouldn't give,” she shared.
“No matter how hard I did it, I continued.”
In 2019, after beating pneumonia near fat and lungs, she fought back to regaining her mobility and eventually returned to walking again.
However, her health continued to deteriorate, and by December 2023, Allison had discovered that she had been on peritoneal dialysis for 10 hours each night at home, requiring four “exchanges” (called CAPD dialysis) throughout the day. “I was physically and emotionally exhausted,” she said.
“But then I found a peer support service from the Irish Kidney Association, a one-on-one free service for patients, and that was when everything started to change.
“My fellow supporters were women who had been experiencing dialysis and two kidney transplants, and she became an important part of my emotional recovery. Angela was incredible,” Alison said.
“She understood me in a way no one else could. It was one of those meetings that she was like an angel of my salvation.” If a peer supporter was asked to have a transplant, and he joked that Allison would “skip to Beaumont Hospital,” he asked Allison what he would do.
A few hours later, she received a life-changing call from the hospital – organs became available for her. “It was as if the universe had heard me or liked God's intervention,” recalls Alison. “I couldn't believe it. It was like serendipity.
The call was the same week that led to her transplant in March 2024, and the Irish Kidney Association was running a campaign to mark World Kidney Day.
“The difference in my health was profound. I can't even express my gratitude to my donor,” she said. “This transplant has changed my life. For years I have been healthier, stronger and more energetic.”
She added:
“This is for all patients, families and supporters who travel this journey with us, and a way to thank my family for thanking my donor's family at the time of personal heartbreak,” she said.
“I recommend that everyone let their families know their wishes about organ donation. I live the evidence of success in organ donation. There was no mobility and it was a challenge even when I went up stairs or walked distances.
“I want people to know the hope that it is an important life-saving gift and that it gives to the families of patients who are worried about a 'phone' for the transplant. I encourage people to support the Irish Kidney Association fundraiser, which provides incredible support to kidney patients and their families. ”
The Walking Challenge covers approximately 25km daily from 11am, except on the last day.
The trip begins on the Sports Complex Running Track in Tipperary Town on Thursday and Friday, March 7th.
For Allison, some of the walks remembers a time when they faced mobility challenges, so it is important that they take place on flat, accessible surfaces. From Saturday, March 8th to Tuesday, March 11th, Allison will walk through nature and encourage people to join her in all or part of her daily journey.
Every day begins at 11am and starts on Saturday, March 8th and Tuesday, March 11th, in the beautiful Glen car park at Aherlow.
On Sunday, March 9th and Monday, March 10th, Allison walks through quiet Dundrum Woods and leaves the car park at 11am. The penultimate walk on Wednesday, March 12th will return to Tipperary Town's Sports Complex Running Track from 11am.
