Vital fundraiser set to take place for Longford Defibrillator Group

Ballymahon’s 4th annual Honda 50 & Motorbike Fun Run takes place on Sunday, July 6.

Every year Ballymahon Nifty's committee nominates a group/cause that would benefit from their event. This year they decided on Ballymahon Defibrillator Group as it has been three years since they had their last fundraiser.

Darren Mulledy, who is involved with Ballymahon Defibrillator Group as well as Ballymahon Niftys, explained how important it is to have funds available in their account so the group can purchase pads and batteries.

“Ballymahon Defibrillator Group has 10 defibrillators operating on a PADs system (Public Access Defibrillators). Each device uses either a 5 year or a 7 year battery and two sets of pads which need to be changed every two years or whenever they are used. Pads cost €130 per unit and a 5 year battery costs almost €400 each.

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“We have three defibrillators in Ballymahon town, one at Nally’s Circle K, one at Applegreen on the Edgeworthstown road and one at Maxol Centra on the Athlone road. We also have a defibrillator at Alex Stanley’s house near the red bridge and one at Foigha bar on the Lanesboro road.

There are three defibrillators in Tang, one at Tang church, one at Tang GAA pitch and one at Maghera pub. We’ve two in Forgney, one at Forgney church and the other at Forgney school & GAA pitch.

“Ballymahon Defibrillator Group also provides free training in CPR and the use of the defibrillator. The Heartsaver course is two hours long and starts back in November and runs till the end of April.”

Ballymahon Niftys are delighted to have Peter Hanley Motors on board as this year's main sponsor. Darren said, “Peter & David Hanley are also allowing us to use their facilities so we can serve refreshments before and after the run and have our raffle, and for this we are very grateful.”

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Darren, along with Mike Egan, have appealed to local businesses to support their run in aid of Ballymahon Defibrillator Group by giving a donation or a spot prize for the raffle.

Registration for the Honda 50 & Motorbike Fun Run on July 6 takes place outside Egan’s Motorcycle clothing & Accessories shop, which is located beside Peter Hanley Motors. Registration opens at 10.30am and bikes depart at 12.30pm sharp.

Everyone is welcome to come out and see all the different types of bikes and buy a raffle ticket which will take place later when we return from the run.