Rapid response vehicle fundraiser gathers pace

A fundraising campaign set up to secure an emergency response vehicle for people living in the West Waterford area has received great support to-date.

The GoFundMe campaign was organised by West Waterford Rapid Response Vehicle Ltd. as part of an ongoing campaign to secure such a vehicle to serve the people of the west of the county along with areas like the Copper Coast and the Comeragh Mountains.

In a post on the GoFundMe page, Michael Ryan, the Chairperson of the Rapid Response Vehicle for West Waterford committee, the organisation behind the campaign, said the vehicle will be able to respond to incidents such as cardiac arrest, road traffic collisions, workplace and farming accidents.

In the post Mr Ryan stated: "It will enable a volunteer doctor to provide life-saving treatment on the scene while an ambulance is on the way, whether it's on the side of a road, in schools, workplaces, or in your own home."

"Essentially it will bring the Accident & Emergency room to the scene of the emergency," he stated.

Mr Ryan pointed out that donations from people, businesses and communities around the county will fund the vehicles conversion to an emergency vehicle along with essential medical equipment, to enable a volunteer doctor provide lifesaving treatment to patients.

"Any donation that was made to the old iDonate page will be transferred directly to our bank account," said Mr Ryan, in the post.

The target figure set in the campaign is €200,000 and to-date the initiative has raised €16,809.

Anyone wishing to support the campaign and donate to the fund can do so by going to the GoFundMe page and looking for the campaign titled 'Raise for Rapid Response Vehicle for West Waterford'.

All support and donations, big or small, will be very much appreciated by the organisers.