The Oxford Mail's Medibike appeal - which aims to equip the Oxfordshire Ambulance Service with its first-ever rapid response paramedic motorcycle - has been given a boost by the Oxford Irish Society.

Following the group's annual dinner and dance, held last month, a cheque for £300 was handed over by treasurer Liz Conneely, with the aid of her three-and-a-half-year-old daughter, Bronagh.

The money - which brings the grand total so far to £9,197.83 - was raised by a raffle, when the 190 guests at The Oxford Centre, Banbury Road event dug their hands deep into their pockets. Also at the event - where guests included Oxford City Council leader Cllr John Tanner and his wife, and Jim Moss and his wife, of the Federation of Irish Societies - local society chairman Patsy Doran presented the Irish Person of the Year award. The honour, sponsored by the Irish World Newspaper, went to the Rev Fr Pat Armstrong.

There was also a display of Irish dancing by the Doyle Academy.

*If you would like to support the Oxford Mail Medibike appeal, please send your cheques, made payable to the Oxfordshire Ambulance Service Charitable Fund, to the Promotions Department, Oxford Mail, Newspaper House, Osney Mead, Oxford, OX2 0EJ.

Story date: Thursday 09 December

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.