Kildare cousins raise funds in memory of aunt
Cousins Thea Ui Lionnain and Niamh Brennan are running the Dublin Marathon in memory of their aunt
Two Kildare cousins, now living abroad, are set to reunite for the Dublin Marathon in memory of their beloved aunt Despite residing in different countries – Thea Ui Lionnain in Edinburgh, Scotland and Niamh Brennan in Berlin, Germany - the cousins, grew up in neighbouring towns Kilcock and Maynooth, remain incredibly close and are committed to raising funds for the Irish Kidney Association through online donations on eventmaster.ie. Search for ‘fundraising page of Thea Ui Lionnain’ and ‘fundraising page of Niamh Brennan’ This is in memory of their aunt Mary Nolan, a kidney patient, from Clonmel, Co Tipperary who was 52 years old when she passed away.
The cousins are passionate about fundraising for the charity that helped their family through challenging times. Thea has previously participated in several Edinburgh half marathons, cycled the Ring of Kerry in 2018, and ran the Dublin Marathon in 2015, all in support of the Irish Kidney Association.
“We’re not just running for ourselves,” Thea explained. “We’re doing this for our entire extended family, who are fully behind us, as we all want to honour Mary’s memory together.”
She added: “Mary lived with type 1 diabetes from a young age and later developed chronic kidney disease, enduring 2 years of dialysis and long journeys for treatment to Beaumont Hospital from Clonmel three times a week.
“It was a tough experience for her, and her husband Martin who drove her to her dialysis treatment, but our family found comfort in the support provided by the Irish Kidney Association and its Support Centre located on the grounds of Beaumont Hospital, especially during those difficult days,” she said.
Thea said: “She received a kidney transplant in 2004 and we remain forever grateful to her deceased kidney donor for ending those years of dialysis. She passed away in 2011 as a result of complications with her diabetes.” Niamh, who will be travelling from Berlin to take part in the marathon, echoed her cousin’s sentiment.
She said: “Our aunt Mary was deeply loved, and the Irish Kidney Association helped her and our family immensely. By running the marathon, we hope to raise awareness and funds so that other families can benefit from the same support.”
