Hello, my name is Riann O’Connell and this summer I will be taking part in the Cork City 10km on June 1st and the Youghal Bay Half Marathon on August 10th to raise funds for the Irish Kidney Foundation and Polycystic Kidney Disease UK. All funds from this page will be donated directly to the IKA, and a link to the PKD UK site is attached should you wish to donate there also (it was unfortunately not possible to create a dual page for both, so please do consider splitting your donation between both of these deserving causes!) In 2018, I was diagnosed with a genetic condition called Polycystic Kidney Disease, which my mother had already suffered from for several years. PKD is the leading genetic cause of renal disease globally, yet unfortunately treatment is extremely limited and inaccessible. PKD UK fund life-changing medical research to expand and improve treatments which aim to improve quality of life and outcomes for PKD patients. However, like any life-long illness the impacts reach far beyond the medical, and the Irish Kidney Association carry out incredible work in providing emotional and financial support to patients and families; this includes opportunities for respite, accommodation for transplantation/medical procedures, transport to dialysis and counselling services. Studies estimate that 1 in 7 people in Ireland suffer with a form of chronic kidney disease. Please join me in raising much needed funds for these causes which are vital to so many. Links to both charities webpages are available below for more information. https://pkdcharity.org.uk https://ika.ie