Meath family's leap of faith to raise funds for Navan Hospital

ANN CASEY

A brave Meath family is planning on running and skydiving on Saturday in a bid to raise funds for the ICU at Our Lady's Hospital in Navan.

Jumping 13,000 feet from an airplane is daunting, but Ciaran Geraghty, the leader of the intrepid bunch of fundraiser says they want to show their appreciation to the staff of Navan ICU for the incredible work they do.

"Somebody very close to me was in ICU in Navan this time last year and we really appreciate what they did for him. It was a nightmare for us and what the staff faced throughout the pandemic has been a nightmare too," he said.

Ciaran explains he has a significant birthday coming up and for the past three years, his birthdays have been disastrous.

"In 2019, I tore my cruciate ligament and ended up in hospital on my birthday, I was in a traffic accident two years ago and last year, my family member was in hospital with Covid.

"Hopefully this year, things will be much brighter," he says.

"I will be running 13km, starting at 5am in the darkness at Navan hospital," Ciaran explains.

He will be accompanied by his brother, Robert, who has come home from London for the event. He will also be joined by his cousin, former Meath footballer, Sean Tobin who is currently doing charity wok in Tanzania. Sean will do the 13km run in the African country.

Ciaran explains that he played a lot of soccer and other sports before he injured his cruciate ligament, but now running is the only sporting activity he can take part in.

"I'm limited in what I can do. I cannot run long distances either. 10km is about my limit, so I will be pushing it at 13km."

The route Ciaran and Robert will take on Saturday morning will start at the hospital, running towards the Athboy Road and then to Athlumney and Johnstown, then Windtown and back in the Athboy Road.

After his run, Ciaran will travel to the Irish Parachute Club, where along with his uncle Robbie Smith and cousins, Grainne, Ciara and Glenda, he will undertake a skydive.

"I'm nervous, but it is for a good cause. I wouldn't be great with heights, but what we went though last year was more daunting," he sad,

"This time last year somebody very close to me was in the ICU unit in Navan battling for their life. Thanks to the help and support of the nurses, doctors and all staff in Navan hospital he made it through and thankfully is still with us today.

"They do amazing work in this hospital, and it is often going unnoticed with the constant threats of closures to the hospital facilities.

"As well as this, we want to recognise that the nurses, doctors, and all hospital staff have worked through the darkest times and are continuing to do, battling a war against the Covid-19 virus. What they faced and face each day during this pandemic is unimaginable, and we are proud that we can show our appreciation and admiration for these heroes by doing this fundraiser.

"Running through the darkness and jumping into the light is a sign of the times that all of us have gone through in the last two years especially. We have all experienced a difficult time in our own way but now there finally seems to be a light and an end in sight," Ciaran says.

Donations to Ciaran's fundraiser can be made through his GoFundMe page at https://gofund.me/e757955a