POTENTIALLY lifesaving equipment has been provided to remote hospitals at Georgetown and Croydon, through the RnR MTB Adventure.
The mountain bike fundraising bike ride was held in May this year, as an initiative of the Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation.
The Foundation was excited this week to hand over $9000 worth of equipment to Damian Orrell, director of nursing at Croydon Hospital.
The equipment is comprised of special splints and tourniquets that will be used to improve patient outcomes, should they be involved in an accident in a remote area.
Highest fundraiser from the event Trisha Sexton was also present for the handover, which was ironic as her mother was born at the Croydon Hospital, and worked there as a young woman.
“I’m from the bush so to see this equipment handed over is really exciting – I know the difference this will make to people and visitors in remote areas because my family are from there,” Mrs Sexton said.
The fundraising event raised $17, 000, with more funds still to be spent in coming months.
Mrs Sexton and her husband Peter are long term supporters of the Foundation, and she was the highest fundraiser on the event, generating $2050 in sponsorship and donations.
Mr Orrell was delighted to meet Mrs Sexton and said the bike ride was vital to his community.
“I look after a community that is spread about 37, 500 sq km and we have a diverse range of incidents that we look after – from people coming in to the clinic for general health checkups, to people suffering traumatic accidents on the road or on cattle properties," Mr Orrell said.
“My community and I are really grateful for this support that is making a real and tangible difference," he said.
Photo: Damian Orrell and Trisha Sexton with some of the equipment bought for Georgetown and Croydon Hospitals.
