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'€9,000 and more to come': Surge in donations to BUMBLEance after robbery

Faith in humanity restored.

THERE HAS BEEN a surge in donations to BUMBLEance after thieves made off with €800-worth of medical equipment at the National Ploughing Championships.

Some €9,000 has been raised to date, meaning the money that was lost has been recouped several times over.

Public outrage following the robbery on 25 September soon turned into much-needed cash that will help keep the children’s ambulance on the road.

Tony Heffernan, the man behind BUMBLEance and Bee for Battens, told TheJournal.ie he wanted to thank every single person who made a donation.

I want to say a big thank you on behalf of the kids who use the BUMBLEance and on behalf of myself.

Heffernan said that the stolen equipment was replaced the next day to avoid letting down the children who needed the ambulance.

Following the incident, Lidl made a donation of €5,000, which Heffernan described as “amazing”.

A further €4,000 has been raised through donations from the general public, including a cheque from three people that covered the initial €800 lost.

“€9,000 and more to come we think,” Heffernan noted.

BUBMBLEance is still fundraising to get a new ambulance for 2015. They have raised €150,000 of their €250,000 goal to date.

Once they reach their target, someone who made a donation will receive a 151 Mercedes car.

“We’re still asking everyone to help …  We want to give the car away in January if possible … hopefully to a TheJournal.ie reader!”

No State funding

Heffernan stressed the importance of public donations to BUMBLEance, stating:

The service we provide is priceless … We don’t get one cent from the State, we couldn’t run it without people’s support.

He said reports claiming that the thieves were caught on camera are incorrect as the ambulance’s engine wasn’t running at the Ploughing Championships so none of the onboard recording equipment was working.

Despite this, Heffernan said that he remained hopeful the thieves would be found, adding: “The guards have been extremely helpful.”

Although the equipment is now of no use to them, he made a fresh appeal for those who stole it to return it.

They’ll have no luck for it.

Heffernan said that the BUMBLEance has been extremely busy of late, carrying out six ‘angel trips’ in recent weeks, where the charity brings a terminally ill child home to die.

To contribute €4 to the cause, text BUZZ to 50300.

Tony Heffernan / YouTube

Background: €800 worth of equipment stolen from ambulance for critically ill children

Read: People needed to push BUMBLEance to raise cash for new ambulance for sick children

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14 Comments
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    Mute Juan Venegas
    Favourite Juan Venegas
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    Oct 4th 2014, 10:29 AM

    I texted to donate back then when this happened in the Ploughings, but I have decided to sacrifice one Saturday night out and donate €50. I think a cause like this deserves it and if you have more than €4 to give to a genuine cause with no state funding providing such great and noble service then by all means, they deserve it

    173
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    Mute Sam Bartell
    Favourite Sam Bartell
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    Oct 4th 2014, 10:07 AM

    What a fantastic service. Really what is €4? A few goodies in the shop or helping a very sick child and their family on what could be their last trip together. Donated no problem

    165
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    Mute Pinel G
    Favourite Pinel G
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    Oct 4th 2014, 12:04 PM

    Bugs me how no Irish company’s like Dunne’s or Supervalu donated, but a German supermarket chain did.

    85
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    Mute Jack Green
    Favourite Jack Green
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    Oct 4th 2014, 1:33 PM

    Lidl is good that way. http://www.barretstown.org/2013/06/a-lidl-magic-for-barretstown-to-raise-e1-million/

    I donated. If I receive a 151 Mercedes car I will sell it and give money back to BUMBLEance, I have brand new car already.

    51
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    Mute Therése Martin Farrell
    Favourite Therése Martin Farrell
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    Oct 4th 2014, 10:59 AM

    Well done to everyone involved and to all who donated, be it €4 or €4000, every single cent is used to help and very sick child, some on their last journey home :(

    80
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    Mute Mary Lyons
    Favourite Mary Lyons
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    Oct 4th 2014, 10:32 AM

    So the thief has upped the donations to Bumbleance! That is just fantastic! Maybe it will make the thief look at his way of life and have a road to Damascus moment!!

    Keep up the good work!!!

    69
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    Mute aido m
    Favourite aido m
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    Oct 4th 2014, 11:36 AM

    Best €4 I spent this month

    62
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    Mute Deborah Behan
    Favourite Deborah Behan
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    Oct 4th 2014, 1:07 PM

    Keep up the excellent work and if u can afford to donate please do, I did and as expressed above, best €4 I’ve spent this week.

    24
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    Mute Catherine Sims
    Favourite Catherine Sims
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    Oct 4th 2014, 7:05 PM

    Actually I am a bit disappointed they only got four grand for other donations people one the journal are usually extremely generous in situations like this. Maybe we need to spread the word to family and friends . Well done everyone did donate.worthy cause if there ever was one

    6
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    Mute Joe O Brien
    Favourite Joe O Brien
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    Oct 4th 2014, 1:10 PM

    What exactly is on this vehicle that makes it multiples of tens of thousands more expensive than HSE ambulances?

    3
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    Mute Greg O'Dubhuidhe
    Favourite Greg O'Dubhuidhe
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    Oct 4th 2014, 2:48 PM

    To start it is a single purchase not a multiple order so little to no discount. Then the medical equipment that needs to be purchased. The cost of fitting the blue lights and sirens.

    They have WiFi onboard I believe, DVD equipment and PlayStation. Screen for same. If fitted for the comfort of the children rather than the normal pick up and drop to hospital of a HSE or DFB ambulance.

    http://www.bumbleance.com

    27
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    Mute Dave Byrne
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    Oct 4th 2014, 3:31 PM

    The DFB and NAS ambulance cost in and around the same price.

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    Mute Paul Matthews
    Favourite Paul Matthews
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    Oct 4th 2014, 5:36 PM

    Joe it might be an idea to do some homework, these vehicles do not come cheap.

    12
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