Don a Santa Hat and help raise €30,000 for centre of excellence

Don a Santa Hat and help raise €30,000 for centre of excellence

By Mary Dennehy

TALLAGHT University Hospital is inviting the community to don a Santa hat and help them raise €30,000 to create Europe’s first centre of excellence for ageing research and gerontechnology.

In one final push for support before year end, 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 in aid of older services at the local hospital.

TUH Santa Dash sta2ff 1

Tallaght University Hospital staff Dr Paul Mc Elwaine, Professor Tara Coughlan, Professor Ronan Collins and Dr Dan Ryan of the hospital’s older people’s service are hoping to raise €30,000
Photo by Tommy Walsh, TUH Medical Photographer

In previous years, staff have gone that extra mile by organising and taking part in an annual cycle fundraiser in aid of a diverse selection of hospital departments, services and programmes.

However, this year, staff are under considerable pressures due to the challenges presented by Covid-19, and they need the community to go that extra mile for them.

Sarah Benson, Head of Communications and Development at the Tallaght University Hospital Foundation, told The Echo that staff are “under enormous pressure” – with the Foundation coming on board this year to work with the community in supporting staff and to raise funds.

“Staff are under enormous pressure and need our help”, Ms Benson said.

“We’re calling on all Echo readers to get behind our frontline heroes one more time, individuals, families, community groups and local businesses, to support this great hospital at this time of great need and have a bit of fun while doing it.

“We want everyone to get out, to get active and take a fun pic with their Santa hat if they have one.

“People can opt for any form of exercise – cycle, run, walk, jog, crawl, swim, any form of exercise where they can record a kilometre or more, adhering to current [COVID-19] guidelines.”

Ms Benson added that this year, the money raised will go towards the hospital’s older people’s service.

“We want to raise €30,000 to support the creation of Europe’s first centre of excellence for aging research and gerontechnology”, she said.

“With technology rapidly evolving, we want to harness what we can to improve the lives of older people, enhance their independence and prevent disease.”

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.

Those interested in supporting Tallaght University Hospital’s Santa Dash are encouraged to register for the event, the registration fee includes a TUHF medal and a completion certificate.

Open to all of the family, participants can do any distance from one kilometre to 1,000km, and complete their sponsored challenge in their own area and over whatever timeframe suits them, between now and December 31.

Tallaght University Hospital Foundation is also calling out to businesses to get involved and sponsor the event.

To learn more about sponsor packages, email kcrowley@tuhf.ie or call 087 2728116.

For full details on the Santa Dash event visit https://eventmaster.ie/event/L9G0Ip3H76.

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