Up To 600 Trinity Medical Students Need Your Support for Med Day 2009

Posted on: 05 November 2009

Up to 600 Trinity College medical students along with broadcaster, George Hook, will roam the streets of the capital tomorrow, Friday November 6th, to collect funds and raise awareness of two vital health services, the Stroke Unit at St James’s Hospital and Mental Health Rehabilitation services across Dublin.  In addition, Med Day has pledged its continued support to the Trinity Access Programmes (TAP).  Building on the success of last year when €60,000 was raised, the Med Day team, dressed in green t-shirts, are hoping to surpass all previous years and have set a goal of €100,000.

Year on year, Med Day has helped improve outcomes for patients in the locality by helping to purchase new, state of the art equipment and increasing awareness of the health issues at hand.  Having suffered from depression, George Hook is keen to assist the Med Day causes and commented: “Mental health is an issue that has always been hidden away in Ireland.  I want it publicly out there and that’s why I’ve become involved in Trinity Med Day 2009.”

George Hook, the 2009 Trinity Med Day patron, with medical students

Speaking about the benefits of Med Day support, Dr Joe Harbison, one of Ireland’s leading stroke consultants said: “Stroke is the most common cause of severe physical disability among adults in Ireland.  It will affect one in five of us in our lifetime and on any day of the year we care for about 50 people with stroke in St James’s Hospital.  With the funds raised by the Med Day students, we will be in a position to purchase valuable equipment to ensure we care for these patients with safety, dignity and comfort.”

A series of events will take place on campus during Med Day including Inflatable bungee running, gladiator jousting and Med Day ‘Super Cup’ soccer followed by a ‘Med’s Got Talent’ show later that evening.  With the support of Pfizer Ireland, a health screening service will also take place on campus and more information can be found on the Med Day website.

Since the inaugural Trinity Med Day in 2002, students from Trinity College have raised over €400,000, making it one of the most significant single fundraising days in the calendar.  In order to help the Med Day 2009 team reach their goal keep an eye out for the students in the green t-shirts, who will be on the streets from 7am to 1.30pm.