THEY provide the sweat and gears – but it is up to you to provide the blood. Over five days from May 12 to May 16, a group of around 20 garda including Sergeant John Ryan and Chief Superintendent John Kerin, Ennis Garda Station will undertake a gruelling 1,000-kilometre cycle that will bring them to each one of the 26 counties.
The Garda Blood4Life 2014 Cycle is a novel charity event. It’s not a fundraiser, instead, it aims to recruit blood donors and to raise awareness about the importance of blood donation in communities in every county.
People are asked to pledge a unit of blood on the IBTS website www.giveblood.ie or call 021-4807400. Better still, attend a local clinic and turn your pledge into a donation. Last year, many of those who pledged a unit of blood, have since returned to give second and third donations.