Football

Creggan Wheelers weigh in to help hospital project

Gerard McLarnon who helped raise money with the Creggan Wheelers Cycling Club to buy iPads for the Antrim Area Hospital Picture Mal McCann.
Gerard McLarnon who helped raise money with the Creggan Wheelers Cycling Club to buy iPads for the Antrim Area Hospital Picture Mal McCann. Gerard McLarnon who helped raise money with the Creggan Wheelers Cycling Club to buy iPads for the Antrim Area Hospital Picture Mal McCann.

BIG-HEARTED Creggan Wheelers Cycling Club raised £4,648 for Antrim Area Hospital which will go directly to the Northern Health and Social Care Trust's Virtual Visiting Project.

With visiting severely restricted due to Covid19, patients will be able to avail of iPad Minis in order to see and chat to their loved ones on a virtual basis. The Virtual Visiting Project will be rolled out to all inpatients in an enhanced way, thanks in no small part to the generous gesture from the Wheelers.

Creegan Wheelers and Kickham Creggan's GAA member Gerard McLarnon (pictured, front) was on hand to present the cheque to the Antrim Area Hospital yesterday. Gerard recovered from a serious bout of the deadly virus earlier this year, spending 57 days in hospital, the majority of which were in an intensive care ward.

In an interview with The Irish News in October, Gerard was overwhelmed by the medical care he received during his darkest hours. Anxious to get back on his bike again, he is constantly reminded by the wise advice from one of his doctors.

"Dr Kidney told him: ‘Don’t be setting goals because you might never achieve them, but look back and see where you’ve come from.’"

Yesterday's fundraising donation was the Creggan community's way of acknowledging the wonderful care Gerard received by the NHS.