DAA Police and Fire Crew in record breaking attempt for charity
This weekend, 20 volunteers from the Dublin Airport Police and Fire Service will undertake a charity campaign with a difference as they attempt to scale 18 mountains in a 62 hour period. This year’s DAA Charity of the Year fund raiser is in aid of Beaumont Hospital Foundation.
The Mountain Challenge was officially launched on Thursday July 1 in the Dublin Airport Fire Station. The DAA’s chief operations officer Robert Hilliard and Beaumont Hospital’s chief executive Liam Duffy were on hand to launch the record breaking attempt.
The challenge which commenced today will see the team travel through 17 counties between Friday July 2 and Sunday July 4. The combined height of the peaks is 55,400 meters and covers an on the ground distance of 90 km.
Team lead and Airport Fireman, Brian Dempsey, explained the preparations involved for such as task. “Training for the event started in Autumn 09, which involved not only gym work at least three times a week but also many days in the mountains all around Ireland during the winter months with snow up to waist high at times. It has continued through the spring and summer so that we are now well prepared for what lies ahead. Our five member support team is very experienced and is comprised of individuals with a military and logistical background. The Coast Guard are very kindly providing aerial support and photography and Dundrum Coach Hire are giving their vehicles and drivers free of charge, for which we are very grateful.”