Gowan Distributors, Peugeot Importer in Ireland, has teamed up with Ronald McDonald House Charity (RMHC) and Bikers Ride out for Prems, as official car partner to the Miles for Smiles event, taking place from 12th to 15th September. Since the launch in February, the event has seen 20 bikers & supporters raise over €55,000 in funds, which will go towards both the building of a room at the new RMHC House, at the site of the new National Children’s Hospital, Dublin 8 and to buy medical equipment for Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) in hospitals around Ireland.
Embarking on an exciting 4-day venture, the group will cover in excess of 1500km around Ireland, visiting hospitals and delivering life-saving and life-maintaining medical equipment bought with the proceeds to NICUs. Participants in the Ride Out will have the honour of naming a room at the new Ronald McDonald House.
The Ronald McDonald House Charity (RMHC) in Ireland provides support and care to families who have seriously or terminally ill children in Our Lady’s Hospital, Crumlin. Since opening in 2004 the House has supported and cared for over 3,900 families in this home away from home type environment.
Marion Carroll, CEO (Volunteer) at RMHC, said: “I can’t speak highly enough of the Bikers Ride Out for Prems group; like us, they are exceptionally motivated and passionate about their cause and I’m really excited to work with them on the first Miles for Smiles event.”
She continued: “RMHC believe that for every sick child there is a ‘sick family’. The medical experts look after the sick child, whilst the job of The Ronald McDonald House Charity is to wrap themselves around the family, offering them a safe, secure home away from home. The service our House provides is unique in Ireland and it creates a secure and safe surrounding for families during a stressful period in their life. We keep families close, when they need each other the most. Miles for Smiles and our many other events for 2019 aim to raise funds to build an even bigger House for family-centred care than we currently can offer. Our new House will provide 53 bedrooms, multiple family rooms, play areas, kitchens, utility rooms and garden areas, all located close to the new Children’s Hospital in Dublin 8.”
Since its inception in 2014, the Bikers Ride Out for Prems have fundraised over €200,000 to buy equipment for NICU’s around Ireland.
Sean Brennan, representing the Bikers Ride Out for Prems said: “We are delighted to work with RMHC for the Miles for Smiles event and they will give the event a huge presence. Our main goal ongoing, is to raise funds to buy and deliver very necessary equipment into neonatal intensive care units are Ireland, where budgets have reached their limits. We also source and donate breast pumps which can be used by parents of premature babies, who may not be in a financial position to rent this costly equipment. This eases the stress and strain on families, and enables them focus on feeding their premature infant life-saving breast milk, as their intestinal systems cannot tolerate artificial feeding.”
Proudly supported by Gowan Distributors, Peugeot Importer in Ireland, Keating Construction & Ruth Scott, Radio DJ & TV Presenter, the journey starts and ends at The Ronald McDonald House, Dublin 12. The route will take in visits to hospitals in Dublin, Louth, Cavan, Sligo, Mayo, Galway, Limerick, Kerry, Cork, Waterford, Kilkenny and Laois.
