Brendan in nine-hour spin for Air Ambulance

Brendan in nine-hour spin for Air Ambulance

12 December 2018

A NURSING assistant at the Downe Hospital will be taking to his saddle once again to raise money for charity. 

Dromara man Brendan Bradley will be pedalling non-stop for nine hours at the main entrance of the hospital tomorrow. 

Brendan, who works in the cardiology and acute medicine ward at the Downe, has high hopes of breaking his total set last year of £1,600.

The lucky recipient of his efforts then was Marie Curie Cancer Care but this year his hard-earned cash will be given to the Air Ambulance Northern Ireland. 

Brendan said: “When a child of a friend of mine fell from a quad bike and sustained severe head injuries he needed the assistance of the Air Ambulance.

“There is no doubt the Air Ambulance team saved his life and now the child is fit and well again. I realised then the importance of our Air Ambulance team.”

Father-of-two Brendan took up cycling after he suffered a leg injury playing soccer a few years ago — and now he can’t seem to stop.

During Thursday’s fundraiser, he will pedal the equivalent of over 110 miles without leaving the grounds of the car park. 

He said: “I have done big cycle events in the past, including a 98-mile round trip called Lap the Lough in August 2017.

“I also recently started up the Downe Cycling Club in the hospital. We have a half dozen members at the moment but I believe there are more people to join us in the New Year. Everyone is welcome to join.”

Brendan added: “I’d like to invite everyone to come along to show their support and help raise some funds for a great charity.”