Charity
Galbally GAA fundraiser for Irish Community Air Ambulance raises over €20,000
Galbally GAA Fundraiser took place over the Bank Holiday weekend in August to raise funds for the Irish Community Air Ambulance.
Galbally GAA fundraiser for Irish Community Air Ambulance raises over €20,000
By I Love Limerick Correspondent Ann Mc Donald
The Galbally GAA and Camogie Club fundraiser has raised over €20,000 for the Irish Community Air Ambulance.
There was a range of events held over the Bank Holiday weekend at the beginning of August to raise money for the service.
The events included an 8km walk with around 150 people taking part, a cycle in which over 60 people participated, a drive-in table quiz, and a vintage car and tractor run.
The fundraiser was joined virtually by from around the world, including Sasha and Gerald Carroll in Singapore, a nephew of Galbally GAA chairperson Tom Quinlan.
Councillor Eddie Ryan said that there was great support for the events, with people, “dropping €5, €10, €20 and €50 notes into the bucket. People were so generous.”
Praising the club and all involved in the fundraisers, Cllr Ryan said, “What I see now is we have a new generation of younger people who are typical of people from Galbally and surrounding areas – they are prepared to put their shoulders to the wheel.”
— Galbally GAA (@Galbally_GAA) July 27, 2021
The ambulance air service was needed five times in the last 12 months, with Tom Quinlan being one of them after a tree fell on him.
Each live-saving mission by the Irish Community Air Ambulance costs €3,500 and to date, Galbally GAA and Camogie Club has collected funds to cover the cost of at least six missions.
According to Cllr Ryan, the air ambulance arrived in eight short minutes to a rescue in Galbally, and he praised them heavily, calling them, “a fantastic service.”
The Irish Community Air Ambulance was launched as Ireland’s first dedicated and charity-funded Air Ambulance in 2019. It is an asset of the National Ambulance Service and responds to the most serious trauma and medical emergencies.
In their first 12 months of service, nearly 500 missions were tasked.
As the service does not receive government funding, they rely heavily on fundraising from their supporters.
The idonate page set up by Galbally GAA and Camogie Club will remain open until Friday, August 13.
To donate to the Irish Community Air Ambulance go HERE
For more information on the Irish Community Air Ambulance go HERE
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