A MONTH ON from crowning another brilliant cycling season with narrowly missing out on victory in the Tour of Beijing, Ireland’s Dan Martin was today hanging out in Temple Street Children’s Hospital.
There, the Garmin-Sharp rider spoke (geddit?) with some of the patients, gave some helpful pointers and signed some Cycle4Life jerseys – an event that has taken place in Meath for the last three years and is helping to raise funds for a new ultrasound suite in the hospital’s radiology department.
Signing a jersey for Reuben Walsh from Clonakilty
12-year-old Reuben is in Temple Street for a kidney transplant
Martin gets Leah Keelan on the road back to Castleknock
Leah is four years of age
“I love when I have the opportunity to visit the patients in Temple Street,” Martin says.
“The continued dedication of the staff to these children, for me, is truly inspirational.
“Seeing what has been achieved through DID Cycle4Life to date shows me that we all have the ability to make a real and lasting difference and makes all of us at DID Cycle4life even more determined to raise the bar.
“To do something that you love and raise money for this amazing cause – well that is something special.”
With Temple Street currently operating with one ultrasound suite, a second would greatly aid the unit’s capability. Fundraising CEO Denise Fitzgerald says:
“For years Temple Street has delivered world-class care in challenging conditions, and many of our facilities are struggling to cope. The continued support of Dan and the DID Cycle4Life team allows us to keep helping the hospital save the lives of thousands of children who face life-threatening conditions every year.”
Checking the tyres with Letterkenny man Calvin McBride (6)
