120 people register to take part, a 130% increase on 2015
Charity Cycle to raise money for vital renal support services
The annual Summer 99 Charity Cycle at Tallaght Hospital is going from strength to strength, with large numbers signing up for the 2016 event. 120 people have registered according to the hospital, more than twice as many who took part in 2015. Registration for 2016 is now closed and organisers of the event are thrilled with the uptake.
The Summer 99 event, which takes place on June 25th, promises not only to be an enjoyable day out for all, but also a chance to support the vital renal service at Tallaght Hospital. All funds raised at the Tallaght Hospital Charity Cycle will be donated to the Hospital’s Renal Unit. The Renal Unit at Tallaght Hospital provides the second largest Hospital Haemodialysis service and the largest peritoneal dialysis centre in Ireland. While traditionally all dialysis was delivered in hospital, Tallaght Hospital now offers patients, that are suitable, the option of having their dialysis at home. This means that patients no longer have to spend up to 20 hours away from home every week getting treatment; they can have their dialysis at a time that suits them and their schedule, and gives them more time to spend with their family and friends.
This year’s cycle route covers three counties, departing from Tallaght Hospital and passing through Clane and Naas before taking in Blessington and the lakes and then returning to the Hospital. Those who live along the route are encouraged to show their support and cheer on the cyclists.
Professor George Mellotte, Renal Consultant at Tallaght Hospital said, “It is brilliant to see such a high number of people registering to take part in this year’s charity cycle. All funds raised will go to support renal services and will be invaluable in helping us to maintain and improve our service. I wish all the participants the best of luck and I hope they have a very enjoyable day.”
Lucy Nugent, Deputy CEO of Tallaght Hospital said, “I want to thank all of the 120 people who registered to take part in this year’s charity cycle for the very worthy cause of renal services. I also want to thank all the organisers and volunteers who give generously of their time to make this event a success. We are also extremely grateful to the local community for their support at the two stationary cycles, located in the Hospital and at the Square Shopping Centre. It is fantastic to see the number of participants for this year more than double and I wish the cyclists and volunteers a safe and enjoyable day.”
Last year’s event raised over €15,000 for Stroke Services at Tallaght Hospital, with over 50 cyclists taking part.
About Tallaght Hospital
Tallaght Hospital is one of Ireland’s largest acute teaching hospitals, providing child-health, adult, psychiatric and age-related healthcare on one site. The hospital has 495 adult beds and 67 paediatric bed with 2,600 people on staff. The Hospital is a provider of local, regional and national specialities. It is also a national urology centre, the second largest provider of dialysis services in the country and a regional orthopaedic trauma centre as well as the national acetabular centre.
Tallaght Hospital is one of two main teaching hospitals of Trinity College Dublin - specialising in the training and professional development of staff in areas such as medicine, nursing, health and social care professionals. Tallaght Hospital is unique in that it is part of two hospital groups, Dublin Midlands Hospital Group and the Children’s Hospital Group which serves a population of over 1.2 million across seven counties.
A new satellite centre is to be built at Tallaght Hospital as part of the National Children’s Hospital project as a key element of an integrated clinical network for paediatric services nationally.
The hospital’s Emergency Departments catered for 44,640 Adult ED Attendances and 31,934 Paediatric Attendances in 2014. A further 263,929 patients were treated through the hospital’s outpatient clinics in 2014. The hospital’s operations are supported by a community of 200 general practitioners in surrounding communities.
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