Funds from charity cycle will support End of Life Care Service
By William O'Connor
THE 2018 Tallaght University Hospital Summer 99 Charity Cycle was officially launched with participants encouraged to register for the annual charity cycle which will take place on June 23.
This year the End of Life Care Service will be the recipient of funds raised from the Summer 99 Charity Cycle.
At the launch of the 2018 Tallaght University Hospital Summer 99 Charity Cycle
Funds raised will be allocated towards the refurbishment of two family rooms within the Hospital.
These rooms are designed to provide families with a quiet and peaceful environment to meet members of the team caring for their relative, receive bad news in private and also enable family members to stay overnight if their loved one is seriously ill or dying.
Now in its fourth year, the charity cycle has raised nearly €65,000 for the Intensive Care Unit, Renal and Stroke services over the past three years.
The charity cycle has grown in popularity with over 300 cyclists taking part since the initiative started.
Registration is €50 and closes on June 15 or when the 200th cyclist registers. The entry fee includes a cycling jersey and refreshments which will be provided on the day.
Cyclists have a choice between two routes, 50km or 99km. The routes begin and end at Tallaght University Hospital and take in scenic areas of the Wicklow mountains including Brittas Bay and Blessington Lakes.
Additionally, there are two stationary cycles held, one in The Square on May 12 and the other in the Hospital atrium on June 7 to promote the event and kick off fundraising.
Much looked forward to
Tallaght University Hospital CEO David Slevin said, “The Summer 99 Charity Cycle has become an annual event that is very much looked forward to by all involved and I am looking forward to taking part in the cycle again this year.
“The funds raised will help support the End of Life Care Service to give family rooms on the Maguire and Crampton Wards a makeover and provide some respite for families at a time of great distress.
“I would like to acknowledge the enormous effort and commitment from the Summer 99 Crew that organise this event each year and the commercial support the initiative receives from the local community by way of sponsorship and donations.”
Tallaght University Hospital End of Life Care Co-Ordinator Ann Hickey said, “We are delighted that the End of Life Care Service will be the recipients of the funds raised by the 2018 charity cycle.
“The refurbishment of the rooms on the busy Maguire and Crampton Wards will provide essential quiet and private spaces for families whose relatives are seriously ill. These rooms will also be available for medical teams to discuss treatment plans with patients and their families, these are also spaces where families can absorb bad news away from the busy ward and where they can stay overnight when a family member is gravely ill or dying. The rooms will be refurbished in line with guidelines from the Hospice Friendly Hospitals Programme to ensure they create a soothing and calm atmosphere.”
For further information on the events and how to register, logon to the registration site here.
Corporate partners wishing to provide support can email Summer99 [at] amnch [dot] ie
