Abseil off Red Cow Hotel raises funds for brain disease centre

THREE years after his near-fatal brain injury, Tom Moran decided to celebrate his remarkable recovery by abseiling off a new nine-storey extension to his Southside hotel.

Tom Moran, who is chief executive of the Red Cow Moran Hotel, helped raise €200,000 towards building a dedicated Brain Disease and Research Centre at St James’s Hospital.

Tom and his family were joined by 130 thrillseekers for the charity event. A number of celebrities took part, including country singer and ‘Dancing with the Stars’ finalist, Cliona Hagan; ‘Fair City’ actor Dave O’Sullivan; broadcaster Ray D’Arcy; comedian Eric Lalor; and former professional boxer, Bernard Dunne, 

Participants descended 35 metres from the top of the iconic hotel in what was the highest abseil from a building in Ireland.

In June 2016, a stroke caused Tom to fall while on holiday in Spain which resulted in a significant injury to his head. He underwent a craniotomy and spent six weeks in an induced coma in Spain, before being airlifted to St James’s Hospital in Dublin under the care of neurologist, Dr Colin Doherty. 

From the outset, the outlook was very bleak and Tom was not expected to live. His family were told that if he survived, there was every possibility that he would require care for the rest of his life. The damage caused to his head was likely to result in him being brain damaged, blind and paralysed. 

Three years on, Tom has defied all odds and has made an incredible recovery.

Speaking at the event, Tom said: “I was nervous and excited about this challenge but I am so glad I did it. It has been a fantastic day and it would not have been possible without all the help and support of my family and friends over the last three years, as well as the incredible care and attention given by Dr Doherty and the neurology team at St James’s Hospital. I was determined to give back to the hospital that helped me and I wanted to help others. I am overwhelmed by all the generosity and support from everyone to make this happen.”

All funds raised for the ‘Jump4James’ Abseil Challenge will go to St James’s Hospital Foundation towards providing a new Brain Disease Resource and Research Centre at the hospital that will offer a new model for patient care in neurological disease. It will be a purpose-built modular unit located on an existing site at St James’s. 

St James’s Hospital treats a large number of patients with a range of brain diseases, including epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and motor neurone. 

Dr Colin Doherty stated: “The funds raised from this amazing challenge will help us reach our final target of €350,000. Our aim is to provide the best value care to patients in the most appropriate setting, in a timely manner, using the best information, diagnosis and therapy with the best trained staff in the country. We already have a funding pot of €80,000 raised through a number of marathon races over the last few years and the hospital has committed to supporting this great initiative with funding. We are so grateful for the Moran family’s generosity.” 

To donate, visit www.supportstjames.ie