THE PUNCHESTOWN KIDNEY RESEARCH FUND COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE

The Punchestown Kidney Research Fund Company Limited by Guarantee is a charitable organisation that channels the excitement of Irish horseracing into life‑saving kidney research and patient support. Founded in 1990 by James Nolan, the Fund’s flagship event – the Punchestown Charity Race – is a 1‑mile‑7‑furlong flat race held each year at the Punchestown Championship Racetrack during the Irish National Hunt Racing Festival, drawing around 30,000 spectators and raising funds for organ‑donor awareness and renal‑health initiatives.

Through the proceeds of the race, the Fund has already contributed €1.9 million to a range of projects, including a new renal ward at Temple Street Children’s Hospital, a pilot peer‑support programme for kidney patients, the James Tracy/PKRF/Kidney Beam Exercise programme, and ongoing polycystic kidney disease research in partnership with the Irish Nephrology Society. It also supports art‑therapy and sports programmes for dialysis and transplant patients across Tallaght, Wexford and Waterford. By encouraging the public to “say YES” to organ donation, the Punchestown Kidney Research Fund works to improve the quality of life for patients and to advance scientific understanding of renal disease throughout Ireland.