Eddie Flood from Killucan is the new Honorary President of the Irish Kidney Association.
He will take over this new role from the outgoing Colin McKenzie for a two-year term. Mr Flood has lived in Killucan since 2000 but is originally from South Dublin.
He has been a volunteer for the Irish Kidney Association for over 14 years and received a kidney transplant in May 2011. Eddie has volunteered to chair the IKA Westmeath for the past 8 years.
Since 2012 he has served on the organization's National Board of Directors and in 2019 was elected National Honorary Treasurer. In 2007 he was diagnosed with hereditary polycystic kidney disease (PCD).
I started dialysis in 2009 and it took me almost two years to get a kidney transplant that changed my life. Eddie's two brothers both received kidney transplants from deceased organ donors.
Their mother, who died aged 65, also had kidney failure. Welcoming this new role, Eddie said: “I am delighted to take over from outgoing chairman Colin McKenzie.
"I want to commend him for his incredible leadership and wisdom during the great challenges of Covid-19. “I look forward to working with IKA CEO Carol Moore and the Donor House staff and supporting and overseeing the excellent work made possible by the Irish Kidney Association's valued membership of over 3,000 people, including volunteers across 25 branches.
“I am also looking forward to working with the newly appointed Honorary National Secretary, Marie Foley from Sligo and Joan Gavan, Honorary National Treasurer from Tipperary. "It is an honor to oversee the completion of the Irish Kidney Association's second state-of-the-art center at Cork University Hospital during my tenure."
Carol Moore, chief executive of the Irish Kidney Association, said:
"We know we are in good hands and look forward to working under his leadership." The Irish Kidney Association offers many forms of help and support, including financial, emotional and practical support to all kidney patients, their families and carers.
The organization is responsible for the promotion and distribution of the organ donor card in Ireland and coordinates organ donor awareness on behalf of Organ Donor Transplant Ireland (ODTI). Those wishing to apply for organ donation are encouraged to have an organ donation card, display code 115 on their driver's license or install the digital organ donation card app on their smartphone.
Organ donation cards can be requested by visiting the IKA website at www.ika.ie/get-a-donor-card or by calling the Irish Kidney Association (01 6205306). You can also text DONOR to 50050 for free.
Read more: https://www.westmeathexaminer.ie/2022/08/20/irish-kidney-association-appoints-westmeath-man-as-chairman/
