Former Derry star gets behind McAnallen's charity walk
January 15, 2016
Former Derry star Kevin McCloy
Former Derry full-back Kevin McCloy says he is alive today because of the distribution of defibrillators to football clubs by The Cormac Trust.
In August 2014, McCloy suffered a cardiac arrest during a club championship game for his native Lavey, collapsing ten minutes in before being revived with the help of three doctors and a defibrillator.
The All Star winner has since become an ambassador for The Cormac Trust and pledged his support to a charity walk taking place in Sydney this weekend by recording a video for Cormac McAnallen's GAC, the club behind the walk.
The event was set-up in memory of the 24-year-old Tyrone football captain who died suddenly in his sleep in 2004 from a hidden heart condition.
McCloy himself had no previous health complications in the past before his heart stopped for a period that day two years ago.
"I had no pulse for over six minutes, then three doctors came from the crowd and resuscitated me using CPR and a defibrillator," he said.
"The defibrillator had been donated to the grounds by the Cormac Trust. I'm alive today due to the good work of those three doctors and the successful distribution of defibrillators to football clubs by The Cormac Trust."
The walk takes place on Bondi Beach from 11am this Sunday, eventually finishing at Coogee Beach followed by a free BBQ, with all funds raised going towards The Cormac Trust, which aims to raise awareness of sudden cardiac deaths throughout Ireland and has distributed up to 200 defibrillators in recent years.
Thus far, the Cormac McAnallen's GAC have raised over $1,600 on their fundraising page, with donations still coming in, and the club say aim of the walk is to provide people "with information about the work and value of The Cormac Trust and particularly the importance of using cardiac screening".
"Since The Cormac Trust established in March 2005, the trust has provided 54 AEDs (Automated external defibrillators) for sports clubs and has trained 350 people in their use and in CPR resuscitation. This training has proved to be vital in saving young people's lives."
See McCloy's video below:
Huge thanks to former Derry footballer Kevin McCloy for his well wishes ahead of our charity walk this Sunday in aid of the Cormac Trust. Kevin talks about his own personal experience of requiring a defibrillator during a game which thankfully saved his life. Kevin is now an ambassador for the Cormac Trust. Come out and support this wonderful cause this Sunday.
Posted by Cormac McAnallens GAA - Sydney on Friday, January 15, 2016
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