Video: Lifesaving emergencies unite Ardboe and Moortown for fundraiser

A remarkable sequence of emergencies involving members of a small running group along the loughshore within a few months, has been the catalyst for a major fundraising event due to take place next month.

On Sunday, March 6, a Red Day will be held in Ardboe to raise money for the Air Ambulance NI, with a 5k community walk, jog or run, while the local Ardboe O’Donovan Rossa GAA club are organising a virtual lap of Lough Neagh, with teams taking on a combination of running, cycling and rowing for the 150k challenge.

The initiative is being spearheaded by four men: Chris Muldoon, Kevin McDonnell, Ciarán Kelly and Andrew Canavan, who all have personal experience of this life-saving charity and are members of the Running for Fun group in Ardboe.

Speaking to the Herald this week, Kevin, Ciarán and Andrew said the Air Ambulance was vital to rural areas like Ardboe and neighbouring Moortown and they urged people to donate what they could to the medical service.

Back in October last year, Andrew collapsed in the latter stages of the Belfast Marathon and suffered a cardiac arrest. Thankfully with the help of a defibrillator and the expert care of medics who rushed to the scene, Andrew survived after spending three days in a coma.

“All the money is going directly to the Air Ambulance. I think it’s £5,500 per day to keep the Air Ambulance running. It’s a charity, so they rely completely on communities all through the North to keep them going,” he said.

Reflecting on his own ordeal, Andrew continued, “On October 3 (last year) I was doing the Belfast Marathon and I was told that I got to mile 21 or 22 and I collapsed with cardiac arrest. Out of every ten people who collapse, only one survives.

“If it hadn’t been for the quick thinking of the people who came out of the crowd to phone the Air Ambulance and to provide me with CPR and indeed when the Air Ambulance came they hit me with the defibrillator and got me to the Royal (Belfast RVH) as soon as possible, I wouldn’t be here talking to you today.”

For those who wish to donate online, visit www.gofundme.com/f/red-day-walk-or-run-in-aid-of-air-ambulance-ni

Full story inside this week’s Dungannon Herald.