A group of Donegal paramedics will take on the gruelling Mizen to Malin cycle next month to raise money for the Irish Community Air Ambulance.
The team are funding their own expenses and all monies raised will go directly to the charity.
The Irish Community Air Ambulance is Ireland’s only charity Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) Air Ambulance.
The organisation works in partnership with the National Ambulance Service, responding to serious incidents and medical emergencies 365 days a year.
The charity plays a significant role in Donegal funding a Critical Care Rapid Response service staffed by a specialist in Emergency Medicine, Mr Gerry Lane.
Mr Lane, retired A&E Consultant at Letterkenny University Hospital, volunteers his time providing pre-hospital emergency care to critically ill and injured patients across Donegal.
In the first five months of this year, Mr Lane responded to a total of 38 calls, attending 17 cardiac arrests and 12 road traffic collisions among other incidents across the county.
“Mr Lane is providing the volunteer rapid response vehicle in Donegal at his own expense and we are doing the cycle to raise funds for fuel and medical supplies and the general upkeep of the car,” event organiser Damien Bradley explained.
“The plan is for all cyclists to complete the event together in one group over three days with no one being left behind, as in life cyclists are much stronger as a group than as individuals,” he added.
“We all know someone who has used the invaluable Critical Care Rapid Response service in Donegal and this group of cyclists what to give something back to the community,” he said.
CEO of the Irish Community Air Ambulance Micheál Sheridan said the volunteer Critical Care Rapid Response service is a vital part of our organisation.
“We are honoured that Paramedics from the National Ambulance Service have chosen our Donegal service as the beneficiary of their Malin to Mizen challenge. It shows the value that is placed on the service locally and how well the teams work together. The challenge will help fund a new vehicle for our Consultant in Donegal as well as providing costly specialist equipment and medical supplies.”
The group aim to do the 580 kilometre trek in three days, starting on Wednesday, August 24
The cyclists taking part are: Damien Bradley (Stranorlar), Gary Gardiner (Letterkenny), Don Brennan (Raphoe), Pat Ferry (Milford), Neil McGee (Dungloe), Paul Doherty (Letterkenny), Martin Quinn (Buncrana), Barry McEleney (Letterkenny) and Don Gallagher (Termon)
You can support the group’s fund-raising efforts on the link – https://www.idonate.ie/mizentomalinparamediccycle2022
