Flying teddies take off for charity

TEDDY bears took to the skies yesterday to help raise €10,000 for the National Children’s Hospital in Crumlin.

A convoy of 150 microlight planes ferried teddy bears across the Irish Sea to the heart of the Midlands for the Easter weekend.

After they touched down outside Edenderry, Co Offaly, the pilots raffled the teddies among the large crowd which had gathered in the brilliant sunshine to welcome them. The event was hosted by the Irish Parachute Club, one of the oldest clubs in the country, with an outstanding track record in raising funds for charities.

Senior instructor Paul McMahon said they hit on the idea of inviting amateur pilots with microlight planes to fly to Ireland for a charity weekend last year.

“We got a brilliant response, over 70 pilots helped us raise €5,000 for charity,” he said.

The weekend in the small Offaly village of Clonbullogue has been the main talking point among the English and Welsh pilots for the past month, according to Mr McMahon.

The Irish Parachute Club hopes to raise €10,000 by raffling the teddies and hosting a series of charity parachute jumps from their own aircraft.

The club trains people to jump, in some cases accompanying them on their first descent.

Another attraction at the Clonbullogue event will be the Air Corps helicopters, which are flying in especially for the occasion.

Last year the event attracted over 500 people, and this year the Irish Parachute Club are expecting even more because of the spectacularly good weather.

“The National Children’s Hospital is a very good cause and we are sure people will come out in their droves to support the event,” Mr McMahon said.