Medical charity coming to Kildare soon launches fundraising events
CRITICAL, the emergency medical response charity, is encouraging adventure seekers to take on a unique challenge to help bring critical and advanced levels of care to more communities across Ireland.
The charity has teamed up with Elite Events Management to run a series of Bike & Hike challenges in picturesque locations along the Wild Atlantic Way in Mayo, Kerry and Donegal between May and September. The events will take in distances from 50 km to 78 km and include a climb of some of Ireland’s highest mountains - Carrauntoohil, Mount Errigal and Croagh Patrick.
CRITICAL provides pre-hospital emergency care to critically ill and injured patients in their local communities through its network of volunteer Emergency Medical Responders. The charity has volunteer critical care doctors in Mayo, Donegal and Dublin and will soon have teams in Meath, Kildare, Wicklow and Waterford.
The volunteers are tasked by the National Ambulance Service to serious incidents and their rapid response vehicles are kitted out with specialist medical equipment which allows them to perform complex and often life saving medical procedures at the scene.
Micheál Sheridan, CEO of CRITICAL said, “We believe that everyone should have access to rapid emergency medical care regardless of where they live in Ireland. We want to bring Critical and Advanced levels of care to more rural and urban communities. Our volunteer critical care doctors and experienced medics live in these communities and fundraisers like this help us to provide them with the lifesaving equipment they need to treat seriously ill and injured people at the scene, essentially bringing the Emergency Department to them. This challenge will put your physical abilities to the test, but more importantly, it will allow you to give back to the community in a meaningful way by potentially saving a life. We hope that companies will take on the challenge and encourage their team members to take part”
There is no registration fee, instead participants are asked to raise a minimum of €500 to support CRITICAL. They will be provided with a fundraising pack, a training plan and guidance to help with the physical and fundraising aspects of the event. Each event will be fully supported with bike mechanics, mountain safety and medical assistance throughout.
The first Bike & Hike will take place in Co. Mayo on Saturday, May 13th starting and finishing at Westport Harbour. The 50 km event includes a 7 km climb to the summit of Croagh Patrick taking in the breathtaking views of Clew Bay.
The event has been launched by Mayo Ladies Football Captain Kathryn Sullivan and Dr Lisa Cunningham, Consultant in Emergency Medicine at Mayo University Hospital and CRITICAL Board Member.
Kathryn Sullivan will be taking on the challenge and said, “I’m excited to sign up for Bike & Hike and I’m encouraging everyone who would like to take on something new to join me on the day. It is a brilliant way to get fit, all people need is a moderate level of fitness and they will be provided with guidance and support on training throughout too. More importantly, you will be raising funds for a vital charity helping CRITICAL to kit out its volunteers so they can continue their life saving work.”
The second event takes place on Saturday, June 3rd in Co Kerry, starting and finishing at Killarney Brewery. It includes a 12 km climb of Ireland’s highest mountain Carrauntoohil and a 66 km cycle taking in Lough Acoose and Lough Caragh before returning to Killarney.
The final Bike & Hike will go ahead on Saturday, September 23rd in Donegal, starting from Gortahork. Participants will climb Mount Errigal, Donegal’s highest mountain and will cover 68 km before returning to Gortahork.
Registration is now open, to sign up for your chosen location visit https://bikeandhike. criticalcharity.ie/