Air Corps Push for Donors
Members of the Air Corps began their cross country 40 hour marathon charity event on Thursday, May 16th pushing a Cessna light aircraft from Dublin, and arrived at their destination in Salthill Galway at the scheduled time of 3pm on Saturday afternoon, 18th May. A wonderful undertaking to raise awareness of organ donation and "Circle of Life" - Commemortative Garden to Organ Donors being planned for Quincentennial Park, Salthill.
Along the route they handed out over 1,500 donor cards and leaflets about the commemorative garden, as well as accepting donations for the garden fund from people they met as they passed through the many towns and villages between south county Dublin and Galway.
To view some of the images along the route log on to:
https://www.facebook.com/AirCorpsPushForDonors
Before leaving Baldonnel, a number of prominent people involved in the world of organ donation and transplantion in Ireland came together to wish the Air Corps women and men well on their journey. Among those in attendance were : Mr. David Hickey, Director of Transplantation at Beaumont Hospital; Phyllis Cunningham, Chief Transplant Coordinator at Beaumont; Former footballer and advocate for organ donation, Joe Brolly and Shane Finnegan to whom Joe donated a kidney last year. Also present was the GOC of the Air Corps, Brigidier General, Paul Fry, and Dermot Divilly represented Strange Boat Donor Foundation. At this event, David handed over to Dermot, the first of the 32 heritage-associated stones, which Beaumont Transplant Foundation is sponsoring, and which will represent Dublin donors and its people in the garden. The stone, a piece of granite associated with the 14th century St. Mary’s Abbey in Howth and procured with the assistance of the OPW, was then put on the aircraft for conveyance to Salthill.
Brigadier General, Paul Fry with David Hickey Dermot Divilly and Joe Brolly
At a reception in the Park in Salthill, Cllr. Donal Lyons who deputised for Mayor Terry Flaherty, spoke of the value of this very worthwhile national commemorative garden to Galway, and expressed the commitment of Galway City council to the project and to the very worthy cause of organ donation.
Cllr. Donal Lyons, Col. Gerry O'Sullivan, Denis & Martina Goggin
Capt Brendan O’Dowd of the Air Corps said, “we are delighted to be in a position to help promote organ donor awareness and to bring the public’s attention to this wonderful national commemorative garden project”.
Capt. Brendan O'Dowd handing over the Dublin Heritage Stone to Denis Goggin
Denis Goggin, on behalf of Strange Boat Donor Foundation, thanked the Air Corps and its 40 strong crew for their wonderful gesture of support for the commemorative garden and for raising awareness of the importance of organ donation as they traversed the country from Baldonnel to Galway. He also said how much the Foundation appreciated the unstinting support and help of Galway City Council, its Councillors and the Executive of the Council to the project over the past months.
“Circle of Life, this very special commemorative garden”, Denis said, “will remember and give thanks to the over 2,200 people in Ireland who have given the gift of life through organ donation. It will be a place of comfort, inspiration and healing for all, and of particular significance to those affected by organ donation and transplantation. It is currently going through the public consultation process and, when completed and open at the end of this year”, he said, “it will be a landmark project which will impact at national level and beyond, and play a very important role in furthering the cause of organ donation into the future”.
Spiddal musicians provided some great music before the Air Corps heroes arrived.
And Macnas Performers brought wonderful colour to a wet afternoon in Salthill.
More details on the commemorative garden under:
A net total of €904.60 was raised during the event.
Anyone wishing to donate to the commemorative garden fund can do so below using PayPal, and please do indicate your donation relates to "push for donors" before confirming it on PayPal.
All donations will be personally acknowledged.
