Cyclists pedal up to help

Two small town hospitals in Far North Queensland will now have better equipment to treat patients after receiving potentially lifesaving equipment thanks to proceeds from a fundraising bike ride. Georgetown and Croydon received $9000 worth of equipment through the R’n’R MTB Adventure ride, which was held in May as an initiative of the Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation.

TWO small town hospitals in Far North Queensland will now have better equipment to treat patients after receiving potentially lifesaving equipment thanks to proceeds from a fundraising bike ride.

Georgetown and Croydon received $9000 worth of equipment through the R’n’R MTB Adventure ride, which was held in May as an initiative of the Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation.

The foundation handed over the new equipment to Damian Orrell, director of nursing at Croydon Hospital, on behalf of the hospitals.

The equipment includes special splints and tourniquets that will be used to improve patient care if they be involved in an accident in a remote area.

“I look after a community that covers about 37,500sq km and we have a diverse range of incidents that we look after,” Mr Orrell said.

“It includes people coming in to the clinic for general health check-ups, to people suffering traumatic accidents on the road or on cattle properties.

“My community and I are really grateful for this support that is making a real and tangible difference.”

Earning the title of highest fundraiser from this year’s event for generating $2050 in sponsorship and donations, Trisha Sexton also was present for the recent equipment handover.

She said the cause was close to her heart as her mother was born at Croydon Hospital and worked there as a young woman.

“I’m from the bush, so to see this equipment handed over is really exciting,” Ms Sexton said.

“I know the difference this will make to people and visitors in remote areas because my family are from there.”

This year’s R’n’R MTB Adventure ride raised $17,000.

More funds will be spent in coming months.

VITAL STOCK: Croydon Hospital director of nursing Damian Orrell and fundraising champ Trisha Sexton with $9000 worth of medical equipment that has been donated through the FNQ Hospital Foundation's R’n’R MTB Adventure charity ride.