Charity cycle raises vital funds for Cork's Mercy University Hospital Foundation

A CHARITY cycle raised more than €68,000 for the Mercy University Hospital Foundation and Carrigaline and District Lions Club recently.

The Fort2Fort Tour Di Sarti was organised by Sam Beamish of Carrigaline and District Lions Club, who has been instrumental in the success of the event since its inception in 2012.

The third edition of the three-day international event last October saw 19 participants cycle 218km, and climb 2,360m across two Italian regions and the Republic of San Marino.

Mr Beamish presented funds raised through the event at a special event held recently at the Carrigaline Lions Club Youth Centre. Special guest at the presentation was Tomasso Morri, owner of the Hotel Sarti in Riccionne, where the cyclists stayed during their trip.

Some 90% of the funds raised from the cycle will go towards the new Mercy Cancer CARE Centre, due to open its doors this spring, which will provide vital support for patients and their loved ones as they go through their cancer journey. The remaining 10% raised will go towards Carrigaline and District Lions Club.

Clinical medical oncologist at the Mercy University Hospital, Professor Derek Power, said: “The funds will go towards the Cancer CARE Centre, which will provide a quiet and safe place for patients and their families to access an increasingly necessary range of services to support those affected both directly and indirectly by a cancer diagnosis.

“It will also be home to our flagship psycho-oncology service, delivered by clinical psychologists, to support the mental health and emotional needs of cancer patients and their families during such a difficult time.”

Mercy University Hospital Foundation CEO Micheál Sheridan, added: “Funds raised through the Mercy University Hospital Foundation are used to purchase state-of-the-art equipment to enhance and develop services at The Mercy.

“We would not be able to do this without the support that events like Fort2Fort receive, and continued efforts of friends of the Foundation like Sam Beamish, his Fort2Fort committee, and the Tour Di Sarti team.

“Since its inception, Fort2Fort, and its successful international iterations, have raised over €500,000 to support this work, and we are so appreciative of that.”