Covid nurse taking part in Santa Dash in memory of her father
By Aideen O'Flaherty
A TALLAGHT University Hospital (TUH) nurse and her two young nephews are taking part in the annual Santa Dash fundraiser, which this year is in aid of the hospital’s older age services, this month.
As reported in The Echo last week, staff at the local hospital are calling on the community to take part in their annual Santa Dash – and to walk, jog, run, swim or cycle, and log their distances, to help raise funds for Europe’s first Centre of Excellence for Aging Research and Gerontechnology.
Jude Matthews nephews Danny and Rory
Jude Matthews, a nurse in the hospital’s Covid sort ward, decided to take part in the virtual Santa Dash this year in memory of her late father, Joe Matthews, who passed away in his hometown of Carlow last June, aged 73.
Jude, who lives in Citywest, told The Echo: “Dad would’ve always been someone that would’ve fundraised for charity.
“When we were picking out his suit for his funeral, the funeral director said to check if there were any raffle tickets in the pockets.
“He also volunteered in his local church in Carlow for 60 years, and as a result I got actively involved in fundraising.
“With Covid and charities not being able to do their usual fundraisers, I became very aware of the issues there [with raising money].
Jude at work in Tallaght Hospital
“I had been debating doing something for this Christmas, and then the Santa Dash came up.”
The Santa Dash, which is organised by the Tallaght University Hospital Foundation (TUHF), is being backed by The Echo and the South Dublin Chamber and is open to the entire community. Participants can clock any mileage from one kilometre to 1,000km.
Jude has already started clocking up the miles to reach her target of 100kms.
She has enlisted her nephews too, with eight-year-old Rory planning to hit a target of 50kms, while five-year-old Danny will take part in the final leg of the challenge on December 12 – when the trio will walk to the McDonald’s in Carlow from their grandfather’s house and back, covering a distance of 5km.
“Because of the lockdown I can’t bring them to Dublin,” explained Jude. “They’ve raised €130 so far.
“They know that the fundraiser is for sick people, and they know that I work in a hospital.”
Jude said she has also previously worked in age-related care in Tallaght hospital and has seen first-hand the work that is done there, and so knows the money is going to a worthy cause.
Money raised through this year’s Santa Dash will be invested in developing Europe’s first Centre of Excellence for Aging Research and Gerontechnology in Tallaght.
According to the Foundation, Tallaght University Hospital is on course to become a global hub, collaborating with technology providers and innovators in Ireland and around the world to improve the health and wellbeing of people over 65.
Individuals and families looking to take part in the TUHF Santa Dash can register at https://www.popupraces.ie/race/tuhf-santa-dash/ and can set up an optional fundraising page at https://www.idonate.ie/TUHF-SantaDash.
Local businesses are encouraged to get on board and show their support by purchasing a logo or listing.
Companies who support the Santa Dash, will have their logo or listing included on the donated sponsor advert pages in The Echo on December 10th and 17th.
The Echo has offered this ad space for free, with all proceeds donated by businesses going directly to the Santa Dash. Email Kelly Crowley from TUHF at kcrowley@tuhf.ie for more information.
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