An air ambulance service who came to the aid of an Irish club cyclists when he crashed as he went out on a training ride, suffering paralysis, has received a donation of £10,100, or just over €11,200, after his club and friends in the Irish cycling community went on a fundraising drive.
The money was raised via a cyclocross race and also after a raffle, with prizes including signed kit from pro rider Sam Bennett, was also very successful.
Raymond Beers, a well known figure on the Northern Ireland scene and long-time members of Antrim East Audi CC, was going out for a rider on January 25th last year when he crashed and broke his neck. He had just left his home when the accident occurred.
"Raymond’s injuries were such that the air ambulance was called," said East Antrim CC. "It landed close to Raymond and he was assessed at the scene by a consultant and a paramedic. The third member of the crew, the pilot, flew from Antrim to the Royal Victoria Hospital in approximately six minutes.
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"Raymond was awake and remembered looking up at the blue sky on his journey to the RVH. They landed on the roof of the Royal Victoria Hospital, then he was taken straight into the emergency department and then onto intensive care."
On the January 22nd last, just days before the one-year anniversary of Raymond's accident, the Ride for Raymond cyclocross races were held; Lee Harvey (Spellman Dublin Sport) and Stephanie Roche (Scott Bright Motors) winning the main events on the day.
As well as the East Antrim CC members, special thanks also goes to a lot of Raymond's friends in cycling who helped with various aspects of the race, and with the raffle, including: Toby Watson, Gerry Heverin, David Creighton, Owen Grehan, Jonny Beers, Jim Adams and Katie Adams.
A group of East Antrim CC members, and other friends from the cycling community, visited the Northern Ireland Air Ambulance facility outside Lisburn last weekend and presented the money to the team there, while also being given a tour of the facility.
Well done to all involved, it's great to see the cycling community looking after one of our own like this and recognising the work of the air ambulance service and crew members.
