Month: June 2026

Biobank Takes on the Vhi Women’s Mini Marathon 2026

On Sunday, 31 May, a fantastic group from Biobank laced up their runners and joined thousands of women on the streets of Dublin for the Vhi Women’s Mini Marathon — Ireland’s iconic 10km event and the largest all-female race of its kind in the world.

Now in its 44th year, the Mini Marathon is much more than a race. It’s a celebration of community, resilience, and women coming together for causes that matter — and this year’s theme, “Because You Can,” felt like a perfect fit for our team.

Our Biobank runners walked, jogged, and ran the 10km route through Dublin city, from Fitzwilliam Place to Lower Baggot Street, alongside close to 30,000 participants all raising money for charities close to their hearts. The atmosphere on the day was electric, and the sense of pride at the finish line was something special.

We’re incredibly proud of everyone who took part on behalf of Biobank. Events like this are a reminder of why community fundraising matters — and the energy, effort, and good humour our team brought to race day made it a day to remember.

A massive congratulations and thank you to all our runners.

 

The BioBank Golf Classic in aid of cancer research was held again this year on Friday 19th June in Malahide Golf Club – our 16th year in Malahide!  A total of 50 teams participated and we expect the day will raise in excess of €20,000 all of which will go towards funding new treatments in the fight against cancer.

Despite inclement weather a great day and evening was had by all with a possible club record achieved of TWO holes in one at a single outing – both on Red 9. The visiting teams were effusive in their praise for the course, clubhouse and facilities with most players on multiple repeat visits to this great day of golf. BioBank will return to MGC on June 18th 2027 with the time sheet already in great shape. A huge thank you to our organising Committee, our Volunteers, our Admin and our many supporters and sponsors – you turn up every year and you all did a great job! Looking forward to next year!

Written by: Gerry Fitzsimons – Director BioBank Ireland Trust

The Trinity St James’s Biobank Network (TSBN) is a working group of representatives from biobanks in Trinity College Dublin and its associated hospitals; St James’s Hospital, The Coombe Hospital, Tallaght University Hospital, Children’s Health Ireland at Crumlin and a collaborating hospital, Beaumont Hospital.

The purpose of the TSBN is to act as a forum for education, co-ordination and policy generation for all areas relating to biobanking. Embedded within the network, is the patient voice, where biobanks work closely with patient advocates from across various organizations, including the TSJCI Patient Representative Group. The TSBN Annual Newsletter provides a snapshot of some of the metrics across all disease-specific biobanks in 2025.

Newsletter: Biobank Ireland Newsletter 240426

For more information on the TSBN, please click on the following link: https://www.tcd.ie/medicine/trinity-st-jamess-biobank-network/