We were absolutely delighted to recently host some of the team from Microsoft here in the NRH to unveil a brand new piece of equipment for the NRH Prosthetic & limb Absence Rehabilitation (POLAR) Programme.  This equipment is a long desired addition to the POLAR patient service and was purchased with the support of funds raised through a variety of different fundraising events.  Ellen O’ Neill, who was a POLAR patient in the NRH, and her work colleagues in Microsoft decided to raise funds for the NRH POLAR Programme through the fundraising activities of a staff pier walk in Dun Laoghaire, a staff cricket match and some staff completing the 2024 Dublin City Marathon.  All of these fundraising initiatives then received Corporate match funding through Microsoft.   We are so grateful to all the team at Microsoft who participated in these fundraising events and also to those who supported their colleagues through donations.

With Ellen’s membership with Cabinteely Gospel Choir, they also came on board in this fundraising drive to make this equipment purchase a reality for the Hospital.  The Cabinteely Gospel Choir organised a beautiful and very well attended fundraising Christmas concert for the NRH POLAR Programme.

In addition to all this amazing fundraising events going on, the 5th Year students in St Raphaela’s Secondary School also came on Board and chose the NRH POLAR Programme as the beneficiary charity for their Christmas fundraising fair.

Through all this fantastic support, commitment, hard work and dedication, an amazing sum of over €16,000 has been raised for the POLAR Programme.

As a result of all this, the POLAR Programme purchased a brand new 3D L.A.S.A.R. Posture system which can be used across both the inpatient and outpatient service in the NRH.  This machine offers real-time, accurate gait analysis, which helps the POLAR Team fine-tune prosthetic and orthotic fittings with precision. This results in faster adjustments as required and improved patient comfort, which also leads to fewer clinic follow-ups appointments and better outcomes for NRH patients.  Only in situ a few months, this piece of equipment has already further enhanced the care provided to both inpatients and outpatients of the service. 

We are hugely appreciative to everyone who made this a reality for the NRH patients.  Thank you ALL so very much.