Athlone Garda Sergeant to join influencer Garron Noone in delivering ambulances to Uganda

Athlone-based Garda Sergeant Paul McNally will join Tik Tok star Garron Noone and 20 volunteers on a humanitarian mission to deliver ambulances from Ireland to Uganda to support the critically ill and dying in east Africa.

The convoy, being organised by the Hope on Wheels organisation, will see 11 ambulances being driven overland from Mombasa in Kenya to Kampala in Uganda on an epic journey covering more than 1,200 kilometres through stunning countryside, remote roads, and national parks, starting on Sunday, May 24.

Sgt McNally is from Offaly but has been based in Athlone since 2018. Prior to that he was the Sergeant in charge in Moate.

He said he is delighted to be joining the mission which aims to transform end of life for the critically ill in Uganda.

“When I heard about this opportunity I didn’t hesitate," he said. "The needs for palliative care in Uganda are huge, with less than 11 per cent of the 500,000 people in serious need of pain relief and palliative care accessing it.

"Thousands of people die every year suffering and in serious pain. Anything that can be done to increase access to care is worth supporting.”

He thanked the senior management in An Garda Siochana who he says have been very supportive of his participation in the trip.

The convoy is made up of volunteers from all walks of life and, as well as Sergeant McNally, it includes a recently retired member of the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB), a former journalist, a GP, businesspeople, farmers and retirees.

“Of course, I am also excited to be travelling with an amazing group of people, including Garron Noone, and seeing a lot of East Africa,” said Sergeant McNally.

The ambulances, which have been donated by the HSE National Ambulance Service, Dublin Fire Brigade, and Civil Defence have been shipped to the port of Mombasa ahead of the start of the convoy.

In partnership with the Palliative Care Association of Uganda, and the Ugandan Ministry of Health, the ambulances will be officially handed over to hospices for use as mobile outreach palliative care clinics, bringing essential care and pain relief to critically ill patients in remote communities.

Adding a high-profile voice to the mission are Irish social media star Garron Noone, and entrepreneur Gareth Sheridan, who will both join the convoy and use their platforms to raise awareness of the urgent need for accessible hospice and palliative care services in Uganda.

Hope on Wheels is inspired by the late Dr Anne Merriman, founder of Hospice Africa, Uganda, whose pioneering work brought affordable pain relief and compassionate care to thousands of patients across the continent of Africa.

She was born in Liverpool to Irish parents and did her medical training in Dublin. She died last year aged 90.

As well as brining ambulances, the convoy will be used to raise thousands of euros to support hospices in their work in Uganda, with an ambitious target of €500,000.

Hope on Wheels chairperson and Offaly native 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."

The Hope on Wheels convoy departs Mombasa on May 24, with arrivals and handover events planned in Kampala after arrival on June 1.

You can donate to Sergeant McNally's fundraising effort at: https://www.idonate.ie/fundraiser/PaulMcNallysHopeOnWheelsFundraiser