Image: Dr Mark Ruddy, CRITICAL’s newest volunteer who will be taking on the Ring of Kerry charity cycle this July in aid of the emergency medical response charity. Credit: Patrick Browne
CRITICAL hopes event will fund network of Emergency Medical Responders in Kerry
A Wicklow-based doctor will take on the Ring of Kerry charity cycle this summer to raise funds for CRITICAL, the emergency medical response charity. Dr Mark Ruddy is the newest addition to the organisation’s team of volunteer responders.
The charity that provided the Community Air Ambulance in the Southwest of Ireland delivers pre-hospital emergency care to critically ill and injured patients in their local communities. It now has volunteers in Mayo, Donegal, Dublin and Wicklow and will soon have volunteer doctors in Meath, Kildare, Waterford and North Cork.
CRITICAL has been chosen as one of the official beneficiaries for the 2023 Ring of Kerry Charity Cycle. The 170 km event takes place on Saturday, July 1st starting and ending in Killarney. Registration is now open and is limited to 8,000 participants. Cyclists are invited to select one of five charities to represent on the cycle.
Dr Mark Ruddy works as a GP in Arklow and has a strong background in pre-hospital emergency medicine. He qualified as a doctor in 2010 and has worked in Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and the UK. Dr Ruddy previously worked for the Royal Flying Doctors Service and LifeFlight in Australia as well as Essex & Herts Air Ambulance in the UK. He still travels to the UK and covers two or three shifts each month with Lincs and Notts Air Ambulance in Lincoln.
Dr Ruddy is available to respond to incidents and emergencies after hours and during his commute between North Wicklow and Arklow. He will be tasked by the National Ambulance Service and his vehicle and equipment is provided by CRITICAL but funded by events like the Ring of Kerry.
Dr Ruddy said:
“I’m delighted to volunteer my time with CRITICAL. I developed my critical care skills in Ireland, Australia and the UK over the last decade and this is a way of sharing my expertise with my neighbours in Wicklow should they ever need it. I will be called to time-critical emergencies like cardiac arrests and skill-critical incidents like serious crashes. I can start the patient’s intensive care journey at the side of the road in Wicklow if necessary. The funds raised during the Ring of Kerry charity cycle will help CRITICAL to expand into more communities across Ireland. The equipment we use is expensive and only really found in an Emergency Department, so effectively we’re bringing the hospital to the patient.”
Micheál Sheridan, CEO of CRITICAL said:
“We are delighted that Dr Mark Ruddy is joining our team of pre-hospital critical care medic responders. The aim of CRITICAL is to bring hope to people when they need it most. We know that it takes a community to save a life and there are skilled individuals in our communities across the country willing to answer the call. We’re delighted that Dr Ruddy will be taking part in the Ring of Kerry charity cycle this July. It’s a really important fundraiser for us and we’re honoured to have been chosen as one of the beneficiaries. We have set ambitious targets and hope the event will help to fund a new Rapid Response Vehicle as well as equipment for Volunteer Emergency Medical Responders across Co. Kerry. We’re working hard to bring critical and advanced care to more communities across the country and Co. Kerry is a top priority for us.”
It costs an average of €25,000 to establish an Advanced level Volunteer Doctor in the community; and €120,000 to put a new Critical Care response vehicle on the road.
To register for the Ring of Kerry Charity Cycle in aid of CRITICAL visit: https://www.ringofkerrycycle.ie/our-charities/critical-emergency-medical-response/ The charity has also announced that anyone who registers to take part in the Ring of Kerry will be entered into a draw to win a one week cycling training camp in Lanzarote in January 2024 with a 7-night stay at La Santa Resort on the island included.
Any companies interested in registering a team of employees in the Ring of Kerry Charity Cycle should contact [email protected]