Past Events

Static Bike Ride – Manchester to Belfast on 31 March 2011

A team of staff and patient’s family members did a static bike ride from Manchester to Belfast (240k)  to raise funds for the Manchester Children’s Transplant Team to enable them to attend the British Transplant Games in Belfast in August this year.  They raised over £274 on the day so thank you to everyone concerned, particularly Edinburgh Bicycle Co-op for the loan of the bike and equipment.

First Impressions of Stalybridge held a Fashion Lunch on behalf of Kidneys for Life on Thursday, 21 October at the White Hart in Lydgate.  The event raised over £2,000 and we are grateful for everyone who attended such a fabulous lunch and fashion show.

Super Hero 5km Run – 26 September 2010

On Sunday, 26th September at Heaton Park in Manchester over 500 “Super Heroes” took part and a few of these were from  Kidneys for Life and they raised over £1,400 so well done to everyone who took part.

Great Manchester 10k Run 2010  

We had 45 runners in 2010 all taking part in the Great Manchester Run.  The weather was kind if a little cold but much better than last year.  The monies are still coming in for the sponsorship but hopefully we will have raised over £6,500 this year.  Andrew Oldham one of our runners had a fantastic time of 38:34 and was placed 175th overall.  Well done to everyone who took part.

See our Gallery of photos from the event.  

London Marathon 2010   

Des Gardner took part in the London Marathon on behalf of Kidneys for Life.  He managed a respectable 4:48 which was just three minutes outside of his planned time so he was extremely pleased with this.  Des and his family & friends have helped raised nearly £5,000 (including gift aid) in sponsorship so our thanks go out to Des for this fantastic effort.

Great Manchester Run 2009  

We had 28 runners in the race in 2009 who raised over £3,000 between them.  They all completed the race despite the rain.

Runners 2009

40th Anniversary Celebration Event – 20 February 2009  

Manchester Royal Infirmary celebrates 40 years and 4,000 Kidney Transplants!  

On 20^th February, the transplant team at Manchester Royal Infirmary hosted an event to celebrate successfully undertaking their 4,000^th kidney transplant and in doing so became the first hospital in the UK to reach the milestone.  As well as celebrating this fantastic milestone they also celebrated over 40 years of transplantation in Manchester.  

Although the 4,000^th transplant was actually completed back in November, the celebration had to be put on hold as the event had already been planned for February 2009.  This was because the team weren’t expecting to reach the 4,000^th patient until after Christmas, so to exceed expectation was a welcome surprise to everyone.     

Mike Kewley, Transplant Patient said of the event     

“I attended the event to celebrate 40 years of kidney transplantation at MRI and celebrate MRI undertaking the 4,000^th kidney transplant. I was one of those lucky 4,000 people.    

Over 100 patients their guests and 100 delegates from across the worlds including MRI’s transplant surgeons past and present attended the afternoon event which was opened by Mr Neil Parrott.    

The event got off to a great start with a choice of hot meals and refreshments and the chance to catch up with friends old and new and chat about our kidney journey.    

After lunch Dennis Crane and Susan Harper, the 4000^th recipient, cut the celebration cake and thanked all the staff for their support and care. Dennis, who received his kidney 29 years ago at MRI recounted how he had crash landed into the kidney world and recalled some of his experiences over those years.    

We then moved to the lecture hall to hear an engaging talk from Mr Parrott explaining the progress over the last 40 year in kidney transplantation, his hopes for the future whilst making reference to the new hospitals development. We also heard from Professor Gunnar Tyden from Stockholm who gave a presentation about ABO incompatible transplantation. Although this was a fascinating subject I must confess it was really aimed for the medical practitioners and not the likes of me! Professor James Shapiro from Canada discussed the global success of Islet transplantation.    

I thoroughly enjoyed the afternoon, it gave me the chance to meet friends, hear about the development of kidney transplantation and find out that by the end of that day MRI had completed transplant number 4051. “    

Susan Harper who was the 4,000th recipient had her transplant in November:    

“The doctors and nurses were my guardian angels.  I was given a new life that day.”  On her first visit home from hospital after the transplant Susan proposed to her partner Stewart Ronald and they got married in May last year.    

, Renal Transplant Consultant at Manchester Royal Infirmary said:    

Mr Neil Parrott

 “I am absolutely delighted that Manchester Royal Infirmary has now done it’s 4000^th kidney transplant in the same year that also marks the 40^th anniversary of our first ever kidney transplant in 1968. Manchester has a very long and proud tradition as a leading kidney transplant centre, and is currently the largest in the UK and one of the largest in the world. Whilst this is a tremendous achievement in itself, what is more important is that for 40 years this unit has been giving new life and new vitality to so many people because of the success that is kidney transplantation.    

“There have been many developments and improvements over the last four decades, and I am confident that they will not stop there. I hope too that our success helps people to consider the very positive act of organ donation, and can see how it benefits so many people. The success of 4,000 transplants is due to the contributions of a huge and dedicated team who can also feel justifiably proud.”     

Great Manchester 10k Run 2008    

We had five runners in the race in 2008 who raised over £1,600 between them.