QVMCC Kells to Kells Air Ambulance Ride Out 2009
Quay Vipers MCC is well known throughout the motorcycle fraternity in its charity fundraising roles, promoting and raising
funds for local charities from the clubs conception in September 2001 until the present day with over £70 000 being raised and
donated to various charities and worthy causes. The club supported two main charities up until 2007 by organising annual ride outs
etc. the Northern Ireland Children’s Hospice and Mid Antrim Animal Sanctuary. In early 2008 the club decided that
there was the need to run an event for the new Ireland Air Ambulance, a unit where in the past the cover could be supplied by the
M.O.D.within its operational role in the province during the troubles. The idea of an organised ride out initially came about when we
were asked to run a ride out from Kells Co. Antrim to Kells Co. Meath to promote the Kells road races sponsored by
Adelaide Insurance Services. Since Kells Meath will be within the operational range of the Air Ambulance Service we decided to run
the ride out to raise funds for this service. As a result of this the Quay Vipers MCC has now adopted the Ireland Air Ambulance
as clubs third annual charity ride out. QVMCC members volunteered in the role as coordinators between the club and the
Air Ambulance team, where an excellent working relationship has developed. The main objectives are the organising and promotion
of the ride out, the selling of charity regalia and assisting other members of the club who wish to raise funds by other methods.
The organising of the ride out involves other bodies such as Local Councils, PSNI, Garda, Parades Commission,
Roads Service, support from local press, radio promotions with continual liaison and assistance from the
Air Ambulance team. The work involved for the ride out is drawn out over a six month period, with initial contact through
emails and phone calls to bodies involved. Most of the time and effort spent leading up to the ride out is focused on the promotion of
the event which also directly promotes the charity itself, with assistance from the Air Ambulance volunteers and club members;
posters and flyers are distributed throughout the province. The ride out on the day is assisted by the PSNI and Garda who
ensure the safety of all the bikers involved and make the ride out an enjoyable experience.
All proceeds raised from the ride out and other events organised by the club are donated directly the Ireland Air Ambulance.
The clubs directive is to assist and promote the Ireland Air Ambulance in the best way we know how,
through the club web site and by getting out and connecting with people to make them aware what the
Ireland Air Ambulance is capable off and the lives it will save, all from a small donation.
Today there is no service of this kind in Ireland, this new Ireland Air Ambulance will be the 17th Air Ambulance Service
operating in the UK and Ireland. It will be funded in the same way as most of the other UK Air Ambulance services,
with donations coming in from street collections, private donations, corporate funding and sponsored events such
as sky diving to car and motorcycle events.
From a 999 call this fully equipped Helicopter Emergency Medical Service [HEMS] Air Ambulance will be tasked,
airborne, en route in under 3 minutes and flown by highly skilled Air Ambulance pilots. They will have the authority to land
anywhere from a school playground to a city centre junction.
Operating 365 days a year, the aircraft from the proposed operational base at Omagh will have the capability to cover the following areas:
Antrim, Armagh, Belfast. Cavan, Donegal, Down , Dublin, Fermanagh, Galway, L'Derry, Leitrim, Louth, Longford, Meath,
Monaghan, Roscommon, Sligo, Tyrone, Westmeath, not forgetting Rathlin Island and Isle Of Man.
On board will be a fully trained Trauma Doctor and Trauma Paramedic. Their expertise will allow them to determine which is the
best hospital to deal with any particular type of injury at that time - whether it is a head, spinal, limb or other. The base at Omagh offers
the unit to reach the casualty within 30 minutes, treat and take the patient to the most suitable A&E hospital.
The journey should
be made within the crucial Golden Hour. The Golden Hour is the first sixty minutes after the occurrence of multi-system trauma.
It is widely believed that the patient's chances of survival are greatest if they receive definitive care within the first hour after a severe injury.
This is a situation where a road ambulance due to the rural extent of the area would be unable to complete, unless within 30 minutes of
a regional hospital. Not much use if you have an accident near Malin Head or walking the Mourne mountains.
The money raised will enable the Air Ambulance to secure and maintain an aircraft also cover running costs. It is estimated that it will
require £2.3 million to cover the servce with one helicopter. Each additional helicopter will cost £75k per month. It is planned to
have five aircraft to cover the whole of Ireland. This will decrease the area covered by the first unit which in turn will decrease time and
distance to an incident. The Ireland Ambulance Service will only exist with the generous support given by the community it will give cover for,
whether it be from the individual, local business or from societies and clubs such as the Quay Vipers Motorcycle Club.
The next Kells ride out will be on 18th July 2009 leaving Kells Co. Antrim at 2pm with a regroup and fuel stop at Sprucefield around 2 45pm.
The final leg will be to Kells Co. Meath arriving around 4 30pm, total distance of approx 115 miles. All motorcycle enthusiasts
are welcome, whether to do the return journey in their own time on Saturday or camp near the circuit and watch the races on Sunday.
Further info will be available on: www.quayvipersmcc.com
www.irelandairambulance.org
To see what the craic is all about:
www.quayvipersmcc.com/photogallery_pages/2008/kellstokells08.asp
At the end of the day it will be helping to save lives.
