A fundraiser is underway to support volunteer drivers aiding hospital staff on icy roads in Munster during severe weather conditions
Cork: If it weren’t for the amazing volunteer drivers from Southern 4×4 Response, many healthcare workers might have struggled to reach Cork University Hospital during this freezing weather.
These dedicated folks have been driving all over Cork and Kerry, picking up nurses, doctors, and other essential staff to ensure they get to work safely.
Besides helping frontline workers, they’ve also been delivering food and medicine to people stuck at home due to the snow and ice. Their off-road vehicles are perfect for navigating these tough conditions.
For the past five days, they’ve been on the go, transporting healthcare workers and even dialysis patients, while also bringing supplies to those in need.
Just this morning, the volunteers were up bright and early, making sure staff got to CUH before heading off to their own jobs. Yesterday, they even delivered bread and milk to homes on behalf of the traffic Garda.
In a cool video shared online, you can see one of the volunteers towing a van that got stuck on a steep, icy hill. They used recovery tracks to help move it to safety.
They’re keeping spirits high on social media, sharing beautiful sunrise photos as they drive to Mallow General Hospital, captioning one with how lovely the snowy scenery was.
As the cold snap drags on, the group is asking for donations to help cover fuel costs. Conor O’Neill, who started the organization in 2019, set up a GoFundMe page. He mentioned that the volunteers use their own vehicles and aren’t paid, so they really need some support.
Conor explained that Southern 4×4 Response is a voluntary group that helps transport essential workers during emergencies. They also deliver medications and food supplies when needed.
He encouraged anyone who wants to help to donate whatever they can to keep their operations running smoothly.
Speaking to CorkBeo, Conor, who works at MTU, mentioned he has twelve volunteers ready to go whenever an Orange Warning is issued. He believes this is the longest stretch of bad weather they’ve faced since starting the group.
Even some retired volunteers are out there every day, looking for people to assist. It’s truly heartwarming to see such community spirit!
Check out the GoFundMe for Southern 4×4 Response if you’d like to contribute.
