Irish Kidney Association appoints Westmeath man as chairman

Killucan's Eddie Flood is the new National Honorary Chairman of the Irish Kidney Association.

He takes over this new role from the outgoing chairman Colin Mackenzie and will carry out a two year term.

Mr Flood has been living in Killucan since 2000, but is originally from South Dublin.

He has been an active voluntary member of the Irish Kidney Association for over fourteen years and underwent a kidney transplant himself in May of 2011.

Eddie has spent the last eight years volunteering as chairman at the IKA's Westmeath branch.

He has been a director for the organisation's national board since 2012 and in 2019 he was elected for the role of National Honorary Treasurer.

He was diagnosed with a hereditary kidney condition called, Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) in 2007.

In 2009 he commenced dialysis treatment which he underwent for almost two years until he received his life changing kidney transplant.

Two of Eddie’s brothers received kidney transplants from deceased organ donors too.

Their mother, who passed away aged 65 also had kidney failure.

In welcoming this new role, Eddie said: "I am honoured to be taking up this post from retiring chairman, Colin Mackenzie.

“I wish to commend him for his great leadership and wisdom, in a time of tremendous challenges due to Covid-19.

“I look forward to working with the IKA's CEO, Carol Moore and the staff at Donor House and to championing and overseeing the wonderful work of the Irish Kidney Association that is made possible by its valued membership of over 3,000 people including volunteers from 25 branches.

“I am also looking forward to working with the newly appointed Honorary National Secretary, Marie Fowley from Sligo and National Honorary Treasurer, Joan Gavan from Tipperary.

"I feel privileged that during my chairmanship, I will oversee the completion of our second state of the art Irish Kidney Association renal support and accommodation centre beside Cork University Hospital next year.”

Ms Carol Moore, chief executive of the Irish Kidney Association said: “Eddie brings a wealth of knowledge and empathy developed through his own lived experience of kidney failure and his years of voluntary work within our Westmeath branch and on our national board.

“We know that we are in safe hands and look forward to working under his guidance”.

The Irish Kidney Association provides many forms of assistance and supports including financial, emotional and practical support to all kidney patients, their families and carers.

The organisation is charged with the promotion and distribution of the organ donor card in Ireland and co-ordinates organ donor awareness activities on behalf of Organ Donation Transplant Ireland (ODTI).

Individuals who wish to support organ donation are encouraged to carry the organ donor card, allow code 115 on their driver’s licence or have the digital organ donor card app on their smartphone.

Organ Donor Cards can be requested by visiting the IKA website www.ika.ie/get-a-donor-card or by phoning the Irish Kidney Association on 01 6205306.

You can also free text the word DONOR to 50050.