June 2014

A 27-year-old NUI, Galway graduate is recovering from serious injuries sustained in a cycling accident last October.

Geraldine Lavelle, Castlebar, Co Mayo suffered a spinal fracture that left her paralysed from her chest down. Having spent several weeks in the Mater Hospital in Dublin, where she underwent major surgeries on her neck and spine, Geraldine is currently in the National Rehabilitation Hospital undergoing intensive rehabilitation for the past seven months.

Geraldine is a recent graduate of the National University of Ireland, Galway, having attained a first class honours M.Sc. degree in Neuroscience, as well as a first class Bachelor of Science honours undergraduate degree in Physiology.

Employed as a diagnostic technologist for Abbott Diagnostic Division in County Longford, she is a keen fitness and sports person. Geraldine, a TEC qualified gym instructor, is highly passionate about many sporting activities including cycling, running, kickboxing and yoga. The winner of gold and silver medals for kickboxing at the World Martial Arts Peace Games and World Championships in Italy, Geraldine is keen to continue maintaining an active sports life.

Geraldine has consistently achieved beyond the expectations of her medical and physiotherapy team. Family and friends revealed ‘Geraldine’s determination and willpower is inspirational to see’. Despite undergoing intensive rehabilitation, she participated at the Stoke Mandeville Hospital Games in England at the start of April and won a silver medal. As a testament to her strength of character, Geraldine was also awarded the ‘Marchday Shield Award‘ at this international competition. This award is presented to one competitor for ‘overall outstanding achievement and endeavour’ across all sporting events at these games.

Refusing to accept her medical prognosis, she stated her number one goal is to walk again one day. In order to achieve this objective, Geraldine and her family are looking into innovative treatments and procedures internationally, which could further enhance her mobility and recovery in the future. In the meantime, Geraldine is keen to return to the life she had prior to her accident. However, this will require massive effort on her part in terms of intensive physiotherapy and occupational therapy, specialised equipment and communications technology, as well as enormous physical, moral and financial support. A major fundraising campaign has now been launched to raise money for her recovery

Upcoming events:

Friends and family of Geraldine, in conjunction with support from political, media, sporting and business groups, have launched a special fundraising campaign. The first major fundraising event will be a social night, called ‘A Mid-Summer’s Night Party for Geraldine’, which is taking place in the Welcome Inn Hotel in Castlebar, on Saturday, June 21^st, at 9.00 p.m. Tickets are €10 and are on sale now in the Students’ Union Office Monday-Friday 10am-12.30pm & 2pm-4.30pm. 

There is a major fundraising golf AM AM for The Geraldine Lavelle Trust taking place onThursday June 12th, Friday June 13th, Saturday June 14^th in Castlebar Golf Club. Teams of four will compete over 18 holes for major prizes.

For further details on tickets for either of these events please see the Geraldine Lavelle Trust website (https://www.thegeraldinelavelletrust.com/events.) Alternatively, please contact the fundraising committee members by email on thegeraldinelavelletrust@gmail.com or via facebook (https://www.facebook.com/thegeraldinelavelletrust).

If you wish to contribute directly to the Geraldine Lavelle Trust, please go to the website (see https://www.thegeraldinelavelletrust.com/donations.). There are a number of ways people can contribute including a PayPal link and an idonate option, as well as details on how to contribute by cheques, bank giros and draft options.

All contributions are greatly appreciated and will go directly towards Geraldine’s recovery and rehabilitation.