A GALWAY man, who is currently on a huge 2500km fundraising walk all around the coast of Ireland, is in Kerry as part of his trek and will be seeking to spread awareness and raise much needed funds for the Irish Heart and Lung Transplant Association.
Ron Cummins, from Salthill, is a foster carer and a heart transplant recipient who has so far completed 2000km of his 2500km walk all the way around the Irish coast.
Together with his wife Carol, Ron will be handing out donor cards and talking to people they meet throughout the Kingdom about organ donation. As they make their way around the country, Ron and Carol will be relying on the kindness of friends, family and total strangers for places to stay.
He is currently making his way around the Dingle Peninsula before ending up in Tralee next Tuesday, September 8.
“Having benefited from organ donation myself and been involved with the Irish Heart and Lung Transplant Association ever since, I couldn’t be more aware of the need to raise awareness. I know I’m lucky; I was given a gift, a second chance at life. However not everyone is – in Ireland over a third of patients waiting for a transplant die while on the waiting list. This could be so different if only there was more awareness of organ donation,” said Ron.
“We’ve had some great chat with some wonderful, kind people, much of it about organ donation and fostering. We’ve been blown away by how friendly and supportive people have been,” he continued.
“Physically, the walk is taking its toll but I’m keeping on going, taking things one day at a time. Any time I find myself moaning about my knees hurting or pains in my legs or hips, I think of someone in hospital, waiting, not knowing if they are going to be the one who will die” he finished.
Those that would like to support Ron but are unable to join him on the road are invited to make a donation to the Irish Heart and Lung Transplant Association via the MyCharity website HERE, where he has so far managed to raise €924 of his target of €1,000.
To find out more about Ron’s walk, including details of his schedule and route, visit his page on the FFI website HERE or by calling Carol Brennan on 0864061217.