TikTok sensation Garron Noone to join convoy delivering ambulances to Uganda
TikTok sensation Garron Noone will be part of a convoy delivering much-needed ambulances to Uganda.The initiative, run by Hope on Wheels, will see 11 vehicles driven from Mombasa, Kenya, to Kampala, Uganda.The convoy will then travel more than 1,200 kilometres over seven days, beginning on May 24.Once handed over, the ambulances will help those undergoing palliative care in Uganda.They have been donated by the HSE National Ambulance Service, Dublin Fire Brigade, and Civil Defence and have been shipped to the port of Mombasa ahead of the start of the convoy later this month.Hope on Wheels is partnered with the Palliative Care Association of Uganda, and the Ugandan Ministry of Health.Once they arrive in Kampala, the ambulances will be handed over to hospices for use as mobile outreach palliative care clinics, bringing essential care and pain relief to critically ill patients living in remote communities.Others on the convoy include Gareth Sheridan, who attempted to run for president last year, along with past and serving members of the Gardai, a doctor, a former journalist, businesspeople, farmers and retirees.Hope on Wheels is an Irish organisation made up of people from all walks of life, passionate about bringing pain relief and care to the critically ill in Africa.In addition, the convoy is also hoping to raise €500,000 to help further support hospices in Uganda.Garron Noone said today: "I’m incredibly proud to be part of the Hope on Wheels convoy and am delighted support this cause, and I encourage others to support it."Gareth Sheridan added: "I am delighted to be joining this convoy to support people in critical need of palliative care and pain relief. This mission resonates strongly with me through my work with improving how pain medication is delivered, making it safer and more accessible."I firmly believe access to pain relief shouldn’t depend on where you live. Hope on Wheels is helping bridge that gap in a very real and immediate way."HOW Chair Tom Doyle said: "For five years we have been driving ambulances by road to Uganda as volunteers. On our trip last year, we raised money for Hospice Africa Uganda and learned about the massive need for palliative care."We decided there and then we would do a dedicated trip to support the critically ill in Uganda without access to care and pain relief they needed.""This convoy is about more than delivering ambulances. It’s about delivering pain relief, dignity, comfort, and care to people at the most vulnerable time in their lives. With Garron and Gareth joining us, and dedicated volunteers from all over Ireland, we hope to shine a light on the incredible work being done on the ground and inspire even greater support."Mark Mwesiga, Executive Director of the Palliative Care Association of Uganda, who are partnering with HOW on this mission, said: "In Uganda, only about 11 per cent of the 500,000 people that need pain relief and palliative care services receive the care in Uganda. Access to pain relief is a basic human right, yet too many patients suffer without it."He added: "The partnership between PCAU and Hope on Wheels will address preventable suffering for individuals and families in Ugandan communities."Currently, services are concentrated in urban areas, and these mobile clinics will help reach the critically ill in remote districts."The partnership will result in thousands of critically ill people getting the pain relief and care they need. It is a powerful example of what can be achieved when people come together with a shared purpose."For more of the latest breaking news from the Irish Mirror check out our homepage by clicking here
