CRITICAL’s ‘Every Light, A Life’ campaign for Christmas is honouring the 1,308 calls answered by its volunteers in 2024, and is calling out to organisations to support the charity’s lifesaving work by sponsoring a light, with the aim to light 1,308 lights by Christmas Day.
CRITICAL provides the emergency vehicles, equipment and support used by a growing network of over 300 volunteer responders across Ireland, including doctors, consultants, community first responders, off-duty paramedics and EMTs. Dispatched by the National Ambulance Service, they deliver critical care to people in their most vulnerable moments.
A woman who was struck by a car as she waited outside a coffee shop in Waterford is appealing to people to donate to CRITICAL charity and support life-saving emergency care in communities across Ireland this Christmas. Olivia Hunt, who is originally from Roscommon, suffered serious injuries in the incident in Dunmore East in June 2023.
Dr Paul Campbell, who volunteers with the emergency medical charity during his spare time, was one of the first responders to arrive at the scene. The Dunmore East based doctor assessed Olivia’s injuries, administered painkillers and stabilised her before she was brought to hospital. His swift response, medical expertise, and calm leadership were instrumental in saving her life.
Olivia shares her story with deep gratitude: “I live with that awareness that accidents happen every single day of the week and it can be the most bizarre thing that can happen. And I think for me, because I have come through and come out the other side, it’s so important to me to give back because not everyone gets that chance. With the Christmas campaign, you’re not just donating to a charity. You’re bringing light to someone’s darkest moment.”
Pictured at the launch of CRITICAL’s Christmas campaign (l-r): Dr Paul Campbell, Olivia Hunt and David Tighe, CEO of CRITICAL.
According to David Tighe, CEO of CRITICAL, “Olivia is just one example of the thousands of people our volunteers have responded to in recent years. This year alone, our volunteers have responded to over 1,844 emergency calls, a 43% increase on last year,” he noted.
“This year we are lighting 1,308 lights, one for every call answered in 2024. Every light sponsored shines as a symbol of hope, gratitude, and remembrance, while demonstrating your company’s dedication to the wellbeing of communities across Ireland. Our growing network is only possible thanks to fundraising and donations,” he added.
By sponsoring a light, each organisation will:
- Directly support lifesaving equipment, vehicles and volunteer training.
- Demonstrate meaningful Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) impact within communities across Ireland.
- Dedicate a light in honour of someone meaningful to the organisation; staff members, a colleague sadly lost, or a CRITICAL volunteer who supports their own community.
- Help ensure more people like Olivia receive critical care when every minute counts.
Companies may support the campaign by donating through the Every Light a Life page here and sponsoring a light of their choice. Otherwise, direct donation may be made to CRITICAL by email [email protected] or phone 021-419099.
