No pain, no gain - facing the weather of all four seasons in one day, eight members of Galway Ambulance Service took part in last weekend's Gaelforce West Adventure, a 68 kilometre run, cycle and kayaking event along the Wild Atlantic way, all in the name of giving wheelchair user, Grace Harper, her independence back.
Leading the charge was Tommy Harper, who alongside seven of his colleagues from the ambulance service took part in the event to raise 'vital funds' for a replacement specialist lift for his niece, Grace Harper, who, as a result of a childhood battle with viral meningitis when she was just one year old, is a full time wheelchair user.
Currently sitting her Leaving Cert, 20 year old Grace dreams of becoming a primary school teacher, influencing and shaping future generations. An already stressful time in a person's life has been exacerbated dramatically for Grace and her parents, after the specialist wheelchair lift Grace uses in the two storey family home broke down. Fundraising to access day to day equipment for Grace is something the family have had to resort to in the past, but with a replacement lift valued at €16,000, it is no easy feat.
"This is an essential piece of equipment for Grace, unlike a stair lift, it takes the person and their wheelchair upstairs," said Tommy.
"Fundraising is a last resort for Grace's family, but due to a lack of government funding, for the second time in Grace's life, we find ourselves having to ask our wider community for help to provide her with essential supports."
Joining Tommy this weekend, the seven members of the Galway Ambulance Service who took part in Gaelforce West for Grace were; Colm Costello, Kerrill Dempsey, Ronan Gallagher, Shane Devlin, Eoin Canty, John Dillane and Sean Kelly.
Tommy and Grace.
Humbling
Having already approached family and friends for donations, the Harper family have decided to channel their energy into sponsored sporting events. Having already completed Gaelforce West last weekend, Tommy is aiming to complete three sponsored events this year, the Galway Bay Half Marathon and the Dublin Marathon, both in October. Joining Tommy along the way are members of the Harper family, with his brother, Grace's father, Stevie, also doing the Dublin Marathon.
Outside of the Harper family though, the degree of support shown to Grace's cause from Tommy's colleagues in the ambulance service has been 'humbling'.
"The support has just been overwhelming," said Tommy, adding, "Especially when you take into account the cost of living crisis and that things are harder for a lot of people at the moment. I have just been humbled by the response."
Currently training for his next race, the Galway Bay Half Marathon, Tommy will be joined in the race by his husband, Pat Duffy and a 'significant' number of paramedics from the Galway Ambulance Service. With little time to recover, at the end of October, Tommy has planned to run in the Dublin Marathon, joined once again by his colleagues John Dillane, Shane Devlin and Ronan Gallagher.
"We were supposed to be going to Sri Lanka for our wedding anniversary, but we have put it off; this is more important," said Tommy with a laugh, having committed to swapping sun and fun for temperamental Galway weather and gruelling training sessions.
How to donate
Those wishing to donate to Grace's fundraiser can do so by searching 'Ambulance Service Galway Gaelforce West Race for Grace Harper' on idonate.ie, alternatively you can click here.
