Nenagh hospital staff double up with charity runs for Pieta House

Tipperary healthcare professionals are leading by example by completing a 5km run as part of the Healthy Ireland agenda.

The group of 25 included several employees of Nenagh hospital who had never run before but who took part in an eight-week training programme ahead of the recent event. And in staying the course, they each raised money for suicide prevention charity Pieta House.

Healthy Ireland is at the centre of government health policy, promoting physical and mental health and wellbeing with a view to reducing the burden of chronic disease in the decades to come.

 

Hospital groups, including UL Hospitals, have adopted plans in line with the national strategy to promote health and wellbeing. And UL Hospitals' Healthy Ireland Implementation Plan 2016-2019 identifies 60 priority actions do just that for the c 380,000 people it serves and the 3,300 staff it employs in Tipperary, Limerick and Clare.

 

The 5k in Nenagh on August 16th was part of that wider effort, explained Fiona Steed, Physiotherapy Manager, Nenagh Hospital and Site Lead in Nenagh for Healthy Ireland. “When we started out two months ago, our main aim was to get as many people active as possible, particularly people not used to exercise. We were delighted that 25 people completed the run, donating €10 each to such a deserving cause in Pieta House,” said Ms Steed.

 

“Of these, 10 were members of staff who participated in a training programme we ran called ‘From Desk to 5k’. These staff had never run a 5k before but after completing the eight weeks, they were delighted to be able to run every stride of the 5k. These first-timers are immensely proud of themselves and rightly so. Indeed, they have set up a What’s App group with the intention of continuing their training. This is what Healthy Ireland is all about.”

 

As well as the absolute beginners, a number of more experienced staff from Nenagh hospital and HSE colleagues working in community and primary care completed the run.

 

A few dedicated staff also made it to Limerick on Friday night to complete their second 5k of the week. Over 200 HSE staff and members of the public participated in the Limerick event, which took place in and around University Hospital Limerick. Again all proceeds from the charity run – around €5,000 to date - go to Pieta House