The husband of a Falcarragh woman who received the gift of life through organ donation is embarking on an epic charity cycle next week.
Elizabeth Ferry will be cheering on her partner Peter Conboy every kilometre of the way of his Cycle of Life from Dublin to Galway.
Galway native Peter will tow a dialysis machine, supplied by B. Braun, throughout the 240 km, five-day trek 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. www.idonate.ie/fundraiser/cycleoflife
Peter taking the dialysis machine for a spin. Photos by Andrew Downes and Peter Daly
Peter’s route will begin from Temple Street Children’s Hospital in Dublin, where his Donegal wife was a patient more than two decades before. His poignant destination is the Circle of Life Garden for organ donors in Salthill.
Peter’s arrival at the symbolic Garden in Salthill is his way of honouring the family of Elizabeth’s donor, who made the admirable decision to donate their loved one’s organs 22 years ago, granting Elizabeth a successful and long-lasting kidney transplant.
Peter Conboy and his wife Elizabeth Ferry, (members of the Galway branch of the IKA) Photo: Andrew Downes, Xposure
Diagnosed with ESKD (End Stage Kidney Disease) at the age of thirteen, Elizabeth became a patient at Temple Street Children’s Hospital, and she endured peritoneal dialysis at home for six nights a week, for eleven 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. 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,” Elizabeth said.
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.
Peter shared, “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. 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.”
Those wishing to donate to Peter’s fundraiser can do so online www.idonate.ie/fundraiser/cycleoflife When he visits towns there will be the option to make a donation payment by tapping a QR code.
Regular updates on Peter’s progress will be posted on his dedicated social media pages, Facebook @Cycle of Life and Instagram @cycleoflife24, allowing supporters to follow his journey and meet him along the way to cheer him on.
