Roisín saddles up for charity following startling recovery from mountain fall

A WOMAN who broke her back in a mountain fall is taking part in a gruelling, charity cycle tomorrow to raise funds for those who brought her to safety.

On December 28, 2004, Roisín Duffy had climbed Carrantuohill with friends John Meade, Paul Rockley and Timmy McCarthy and was descending the notorious Devil’s Ladder when she fell.

A physiotherapist at Kerry General Hospital, Tralee, she knew she was seriously injured and her friends put out an emergency call.

The Kerry Mountain Rescue Team responded immediately, despite appalling weather.

The team also had other calls-outs that day.

“There was no way a helicopter could operate because of very stormy conditions, so the team members had to come for me and stretcher me down the mountain.

“Gillian Roche reacted immediately and organised the group in preparation for the rescue team,” according to Roisín.

“Due to the nature of my injuries, the team had to take great care of me and to take all spinal precautions, which they did very successfully,” she said.

“‘They really minded me well on the way down, and I couldn’t say enough for them.

“Taking part in the cycle is my way of saying thanks for all they did for me,” she added.

If the situation had not been handled properly on the mountainside, her injuries could have been made much worse.

She spent some weeks in hospital and made a ‘fantastic’ recovery — good enough to take part in the annual Ring of Kerry Cycle tomorrow.

More than 1,000 cyclists will get on their bikes for what has become a major fund-raiser. Over the past 23 years, the 112-mile cycle has raised more than €2.25 million for many worthy causes. Each year, four organisations benefit equally from the event.

This year’s beneficiaries are: Enable Ireland (Kerry), which provides services for adults and children with disabilities, the Kerry branch of Down Syndrome, the Kerry Mountain Rescue Team and the Skelligs Stars Special Olympics Club.

The cyclists, many of whom have been training for months, will set out from the International Hotel, Killarney, at 8am tomorrow.