72-hour charity cycle to raise funds for Berkeley balcony collapse victims

Family members and friends of the seven injured Berkeley balcony collapse victims are taking part in a 72-hour cycle in a bid to raise funds for spiralling health costs.

On September 3, family and friends of the Berkeley Balcony Collapse will cycle 13 bikes continuously for 72 hours in an attempt to collectively cover the distance of Dublin to Berkeley and back.

The cycle, which is being held at Dundrum Shopping Centre, will begin at midday with the 72 hours split into two-hour slots. The event is being organised by friends of Aoife Beary, who is one of seven students seriously injured in the horrific accident in the US on June 16.

Ms Beary suffered a traumatic brain injury in the incident which also claimed the lives of six Irish students. The former Loreto Foxrock student, whose 21st birthday party the students were celebrating when disaster struck, woke from an induced coma at the start of last month. Her family says she is on a long path towards recovery and is being cared for at the Santa Clara Medical Centre in California.

On the, Friends of Aoife Beary Facebook page, organisers are also urging members of the public to take part. Hundreds of members of the public have committed to taking part in the fundraiser.

“Please invite all your friends and family to the event and drop by during it to lend your support! [There are up to] 468 slots to be filled. You can do as many slots as you like!

“All money raised will go towards the Berkeley Medical Fund in aid of the victims’ families. If you would like to take part you can email us at [e-mail] or the [Friends of Aoife Beary Facebook] page.”

The balcony collapse claimed the lives of Eimear Walsh, Niccolai Schuster, Eoghan Culligan, Lorcán Miller, and cousins Ashley Donohoe and Olivia Burke.

Of the seven injured, at least four have returned home recently, including Clodagh Cogley, Jack Halpin, Sean Fahey and Conor Flynn. All seven who survived suffered extensive injuries in the 12m fall from a fourth-floor balcony.

A memorial was created down the street in Berkeley, California, from the collapsed balcony after the incident.

Their injuries include a brain injury, a severed spinal cord, shattered knees and elbows, broken limbs, cracked ribs, and punctured lungs.

Despite the students being covered by J1 travel insurance, families have privately indicated that they are under pressure to relocate the students to Ireland to continue recovery.