Fundraiser to honor late RPS Paramedic

[x635 4,066]

Fundraiser to honor late EMS worker

By KHURRAM SAEED

ksaeed@thejournalnews.com

THE JOURNAL NEWS

If you go  

What: Nyack Hospital cycle ride and barbecue fundraiser in memory of Rockland Paramedic Services Deputy Chief John McDonagh

When: Registration begins at 10 a.m. Saturday (rain date: Sunday) in the hospital parking lot, First and Midland avenues. Motorcyclists leave at 11 a.m., followed by bicyclists at 11:30 a.m.

Where: Bicyclists will ride 5 kilometers north on Midland Avenue in a lane that will be secured by auxiliary police.

Motorcyclists will travel to the Bear Mountain Bridge — on Route 59 and the Palisades Interstate Parkway — and return via Route 9W. Riders will be escorted by the Clarkstown Police Department's honor guard as they travel from the hospital on Midland Avenue.

A barbecue will be held in the physicians' parking lot after the rides.

Why: Proceeds will be used to dedicate a new EMS room in McDonagh's honor in the hospital's emergency room.

Cost: Motorcyclist entry is $50; $25 per rider; $15 per bicyclist. For those who want to attend the barbecue only, the cost is $10.

Information: Call Walter Dusseldorp at 845-348-3061 or visit www.nyackhospital.org to download the registration form.

 

 

(Original publication: July 8, 2005)

Nyack Hospital will hold a fundraiser Saturday in honor of the late John McDonagh, considered a mainstay of Rockland's emergency services community.

McDonagh, who lived in Valley Cottage with his wife and three children, was deputy chief of Rockland Paramedic Services when he died of a heart infection in November at the age of 40.

People can take part in the event by riding their bicycles or motorcycles or by attending a barbecue.

Walter Dusseldorp, Nyack Hospital's safety officer, worked with McDonagh for 11 years at Rockland Paramedic Services. He said the hospital wanted to raise $10,000 to create an emergency services room, dedicated in McDonagh's honor, in the emergency room. Construction is expected to begin next month, with the room opening for use by early September.

The room would be used by EMS workers to fill out paperwork about patients and to grab a cup of coffee or a bite to eat. Currently, EMS workers use the hospital's quiet room, which is meant for the families of seriously ill patients.

Dusseldorp said the hospital received about 11,000 patients per year via ambulance, about 30 a day.

"Whenever we had something happen in the county, John would drop whatever he was doing and come to the scene to help his fellow providers out," he said.

If he couldn't make it to the scene, McDonagh would go to the hospital to see how his fellow paramedics were holding up.

"He was a pillar of the EMS community," Dusseldorp said.

Saturday's fundraiser will feature a 5-kilometer bicycle ride on Midland Avenue and a 100-kilometer motorcycle ride from the hospital to the Bear Mountain Bridge and back to Nyack.

Registration for both rides will be at 10 a.m. in the hospital's parking lot at First and Midland avenues. Motorcyclists will leave about 11 a.m., followed by bicyclists at 11:30 a.m.

Dusseldorp said he anticipated the bicyclists would return by 12:30 p.m. They will then be invited to a barbecue, one of McDonagh's favorite events, he said.

Motorcycle riders are expected back an hour later, Dusseldorp said. All riders will receive commemorative T-shirts and their names will appear on a plaque in the ER.

People can attend just the barbecue, if they like, Dusseldorp said.

So far, organizers have collected about $4,000 from hospital employees and event sponsors.

Dusseldorp said the county's EMS community had previously raised money for McDonagh's wife, Wendy, and their sons, Connor, 12, Trevor, 8, and Brendan, 3.

In addition to his EMS work, McDonagh volunteered as a firefighter with Empire Hook & Ladder Company No. 1 of Upper Nyack. He also was the chief umpire and a board member of the Nyack-Valley Cottage Little League.

"John did a lot for this county," Dusseldorp said. "It would be great for other people to step up now and help his family out."

[WAS967 97]

Can someone clarify the date?

[Firemn2742A 14]

Nyack Hospital and Prestige Harley-Davidson will sponsor the First Annual Cycle Ride, Saturday, July 9 at 10 a.m. in memory of Rockland Paramedic Services Chief John McDonagh, who passed away tragically last year.

      The day will consist of two separate routes both leaving and ending at Nyack Hospital - a 100k Motorcycle Ride up 9W, across Bear Mountain Bridge, through Ossining and back across the Tappan Zee Bridge to Nyack Hospital; or a 5K Bicycle Ride for kids and families along Midland Avenue in Nyack. Following the ride a barbecue will be held in the Physician Parking Lot of Nyack Hospital. Monies raised will be used to dedicate a new EMS Room in Chief McDonagh’s honor in the Nyack Hospital Emergency Room and to assist John’s wife Wendy and their three sons Connor, 12; Trevor, 8; and Brendan, 3.

      All riders will receive a commemorative t-shirt. The cost for a motorcycle entry is $50; $25 a rider; and $15 for a bicycle rider. For those wishing to only come to the post-ride barbecue the cost is $10. The rain date for the event is Sunday, July 10.

       For more information, to become a sponsor or to pre-register please call Nyack Hospital at 845-348-2772 or  to download a copy of the registration form click on Rider Registration. Registration fees can be paid the day of the ride. Please make all checks payable to the Nyack Hospital Foundation.  

July 9 th ?

[WAS967 97]

We should all get together and make a donation pool to the cause from EMTBravo members. It's that good a cause. I don't know enough member of the forums personally, but perhaps people like x635 and daday who knows EVERYONE, we can get money to them then send it over to Walter.