Northern Ireland Kidney Research Fund (NIKRF) News
T
he Covid-19 pandemic has affected everyone, not least persons with kidney
failure who depend on dialysis to stay alive. Dialysis patients must continue with their dialysis therapy four hours on a machine three times per week regardless of lockdowns. The Northern Ireland Kidney Research Fund (NIKRF), like all charities, has also been hard hit. Not only has the means to raise money ‘out and about’ been much curtailed, but members from all over Northern Ireland who previously met up regularly at the Belfast City Hospital have been unable to do so. Nevertheless NIKRF’s work is ongoing and regardless of the pandemic we must continue all efforts to beat kidney disease. We are proud that despite Covid-19 our funded research programme has been going at full steam. There has been no lockdowns here!
A Christmas tree with message (left) and NIKRF gift boxes in Basil Knipes Electrics store in Ballymoney (above) This of course is thanks to the generosity of our supporters and fundraisers, and the diligent work carried out by our research fellows. The NIKRF is the first and leading kidney charity in Northern Ireland and this year we are celebrating 50 years of research and promoting organ donation. We are all volunteers and have supported over 100 scientists, doctors and surgeons in research here in Northern Ireland, which leads to many research papers being published worldwide and yes, making a difference. It is no coincidence that NIKRF has helped to make the kidney services at the Belfast City Hospital a centre of excellence. We are thankful and grateful for all the
