€16,000 raised at first St. James's Hospital Liberties Fun Run

Mr Reggie McHugh raised funds for stroke services at St. James’s

The first St. James’s Hospital Liberties Fun Run took place on July 23rd 2009 and nearly €16,000 has been raised in connection with the event. 526 runners, joggers and walkers took part in the 6.5K race, raising €10,000 in entry fees. Participants who collected sponsorship for the event have so far contributed an additional €6,000.

One of the kind Fun Run Fundraisers was Mr Reggie McHugh, from Drogheda, Co Louth.  Reggie, a former patient of the Anne Young Ward in St. James’s, finished the race in an impressive 34 minutes. Reggie’s mother unfortunately also came to be a patient of St. James’s when she suffered a stroke. The Liberties Fun Run took place five weeks to the day after his mother’s admission and he explained his reasons for taking part: “Just over a year after I was discharged from St. James’s my mother was admitted to the hospital as a stroke patient. I can’t say enough about how well she was looked after there, as I had been, so I was delighted when I heard about the Fun Run, which would give me the chance to support this service. I thoroughly enjoyed the event and I was thrilled to play a small part in improving outcomes for those suffering with stroke.”

All funds raised at this year’s Liberties Fun Run will be used to support the hospital’s stroke service. St. James’s admits approximately 400 patients with stroke annually – more than is admitted to any other hospital in the state. Funds raised will be used to provide improved diagnostic equipment, provide special safe therapeutic seating and provide and equip a special gym dedicated to stroke rehabilitation – all of which is aimed at preventing secondary occurrence and trying to ensure that patients revert to living their lives as close to normal as possible.

For more coverage of the Fun Run please click here and for more information about returning Liberties Fun Run sponsorship raised, please contact Julie or Edwina in the Foundation office on the details below.

Contact Us

St. James’s Hospital Foundation
St. James’s Hospital
James’s Street
Dublin 8

Telephone 01 428 4086
Email foundation@stjames.ie