Kildare man takes on first marathon to honour his wife's kidney donation from childhood friend

Leixlip-based plumber Stephen Rubotham (age 41) has signed up to raise funds for the Irish Kidney Association in his first ever marathon, the Irish Life Dublin Marathon this bank holiday weekend on October 26.

He is running in honour of his wife of one year Niamh McCabe, who has kidney disease, and the woman who gave her the ultimate gift, her best friend Lindsay Daly, now living in Lucan, Co Dublin, who donated a kidney in a life transforming transplant on September 8 of this year. Niamh and Lindsay share an incredible bond having been inseparable since junior infants at Scoil Mochua in Celbridge, Co Kildare.

To support Stephen’s Dublin Marathon fundraiser for the Irish Kidney Association donate via online link Fundraising page of Stephen Rubotham.

Niamh (36) went into end stage kidney failure in 2024, caused by polycystic kidney disease (PKD) which is a hereditary condition that has affected several members of her extended family, including aunts, uncles, and her late father John. As an only child, Niamh didn’t have any siblings to turn to for potential donation. Their story of friendship and future transplant surgeries first captured hearts when Niamh and Lindsay were winners of coveted audience tickets to the RTÉ Late Late Toy Show special in December 2024.

Stephen was first to be tested to donate a kidney to Niamh who he has known since 2013 and married in 2024. He shared “we were devastated to learn I wasn’t a match but Lindsay was waiting in the wings. After months of tests for Niamh and Lindsay’s operations to proceed, everything was lining up, but at the final stage, it was discovered that Niamh had developed unexplained antibodies. The surgery was called off.”

Undeterred, the two women waited and tried again. Almost a year later, the successful living donor kidney transplant finally went ahead at Beaumont Hospital. Lyndsay, who works as a healthcare assistant, returned home to her husband Paul and two children five days later to recuperate while Niamh was discharged a few days later.

In the meantime, Niamh began nightly peritoneal dialysis in January 2025, a demanding, eight-hour treatment she underwent while sleeping. Before starting dialysis, her kidney function had reduced to just 5%. And, as a consequence, her energy levels had become so depleted that she had to step back from working as an SNA for a while. But over time, the treatment helped stabilise her condition and improve her energy. Despite the challenges, she continued parenting her two children, Faye (8) and Callum (17), and even brought her dialysis machine to Electric Picnic Festival just a week before her transplant, determined not to miss out on life.

“Dialysis didn’t stop her trying to live a normal life, despite her condition leaving her very tired,” said Stephen with pride. “She’s incredible.”

As a tribute to Lindsay, Stephen will not only run the Dublin Marathon for the Irish Kidney Association (IKA), the charity that supported their family but will also gift his marathon finisher’s medal to Lindsay, in honour of her selfless gift.

“I may not have been able to give Niamh a kidney, but I can do this. Running 26 miles is nothing compared to what they’ve both gone through.”

Stephen who has enjoyed running for fitness for years said, “The Irish Kidney Association has helped our family through some very tough years. This marathon is my way of giving back and raising awareness about kidney disease and organ donation.”

On marathon day, Stephen will be cheered on by Niamh and Lindsay, as well as their friends and four children combined, proof of the strength of family and friendship.

Originally, Stephen was due to run the marathon alongside his nephew Luke, who had planned to travel home from Australia to take part and fundraise with him. However, over the summer months Luke became seriously ill with an infection, but he is now thankfully in recovery. While he won’t be able to fly home or run the race, both names remain proudly on the fundraising page and Stephen will be running for them both.

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