ABP donates £100,000 to Belfast City Hospital for Kidney Research

In a recent event at Belfast City Hospital, representatives from ABP Food Group, including Liam McCarthy and Seamus Kenny, the latter a kidney transplant recipient and manager at ABP Lurgan, were present alongside Dr. Jennifer Hanko and Dr. Aisling Courtney, both Consultant Nephrologists, and John Brown from NIKRF. On the 6th of March, the Northern Ireland Kidney Research Fund was the beneficiary of a generous donation of £100,000 from ABP Food Group, delivered at the hospital's Renal Unit. This donation was the culmination of fundraising efforts initiated by a Charity Gala Ball in November, spearheaded by ABP in Northern Ireland, following Seamus Kenny's successful kidney transplant. Seamus, along with his wife Pauline—who was also his kidney donor—underwent operations at the hospital the previous year. The narrative of Seamus's transplant is notable for the fact that Pauline was not a direct match for him. Instead, they participated in a paired exchange program, allowing Pauline to donate her kidney to someone else while Seamus received a kidney from a different donor. This exchange program facilitates kidney transplants by matching donors and recipients in a way that allows for compatible transplants among participants. The Charity Gala Ball itself raised £60,000 for the Northern Ireland Kidney Research Fund, with an additional £40,000 collected subsequently. During their visit, Seamus and Pauline Kenny, along with other guests, were given a tour of the Nephrology Research Laboratory and the Transplant and Dialysis Units by Professor Peter Maxwell, who also discussed ongoing kidney disease research and the impact of the donated funds. Dr. Aisling Courtney, speaking for the Renal Unit, highlighted the significant impact of the donation on the advancement of kidney disease treatment and research, emphasizing the importance of such financial support for ongoing and future projects. Seamus Kenny expressed his gratitude, acknowledging the exceptional care they received at the City Hospital and the broader impact the donation will have on individuals suffering from kidney disease, thanking the hospital staff, his ABP colleagues, and everyone who supported the Charity Gala Ball.