WELCOME TO READY, SET, RESPOND!
Your Challenge. Your Way. Your Impact.
September 6th – October 16th
Get moving for CRITICAL and take on a challenge that means something to you.
Ready, Set, Respond! is CRITICAL’s nationwide fundraising challenge, inviting individuals, families, friends, community groups, clubs, schools and workplaces to walk, run or cycle in support of our volunteer emergency responders across Ireland.
There is no set distance and no one way to take part. You choose your challenge, set your timeframe and decide what you want to achieve.
It could be a 5km walk with your community, a 10km run, 50km over a week, a 100km cycling challenge or a distance that has a special meaning to you.
Complete it in a day, over a weekend, throughout a week or across the campaign period between September 6th and October 16th.
You set the challenge. You set the pace. You make the impact.
Why Choose Your Own Challenge?
Everyone has different amounts of free time, enjoys different activities and has different abilities and commitments. A fixed distance, date or activity can sometimes stop people from getting involved.
That’s why Ready, Set, Respond! is designed to be flexible and inclusive.
Whether you have one afternoon or several weeks, you can create a challenge that works for you. What matters isn’t how far or how fast you go. It’s getting involved and supporting CRITICAL’s volunteer responders.
About CRITICAL
CRITICAL is a pre-hospital emergency medical charity with a growing network of volunteer responders across Ireland.
Our Community First Responders, EMTs, Paramedics, Advanced Paramedics and Emergency Doctors give their time to respond to serious and life-threatening emergencies in their communities.
Following a 112 or 999 call, our volunteers can be alerted to emergencies including cardiac arrests, strokes, choking, chest pain, serious injuries and road traffic collisions.
Ready, Set, Respond! is your chance to get behind the people who are ready to respond when their communities need them.
Challenge Awards
It’s not just about going the furthest or raising the most.
Our Ready, Set, Respond! Challenge Awards celebrate the different ways people get involved.
🏆 Going the Distance Award
For an outstanding distance challenge.
🏆 Community Champion Award
For bringing your community together.
🏆 Fundraising Champion Award
For an outstanding fundraising achievement.
🏆 Team Challenge Award
For fantastic teamwork from a family, club, workplace, school or group.
🏆 Most Creative Challenge Award
For putting a unique spin on Ready, Set, Respond!
🏆 Inspiring Story Award
For a challenge with a particularly meaningful story behind it.
🏆 Ready, Set, Respond! Spirit Award
For someone who truly embraces the spirit of the campaign.
A meaningful 5km can be just as important as a 100km challenge. It’s about taking part and supporting the cause.
Why Your Challenge Matters
CRITICAL relies on fundraising and community support to help equip, train and support our volunteer responders.
By taking part, you’re not only raising funds. You’re helping more people learn about the volunteers responding to emergencies in communities across Ireland.
Every challenge starts a conversation.
Every share raises awareness.
Every donation supports our work.
How to get involved
Step 1: Register
Register through the Ready, Set, Respond! platform here and create your fundraising page, or use the sign up button below.
Registration is €11.20, inspired by 112, one of the emergency numbers through which our responders can be alerted to someone who needs help.
Their response starts with a call. Yours starts here.
Step 2: Set Your Challenge
Choose something that works for you and set your own distance, timeframe and fundraising target.
You could:
- Walk 5km with your community
Run 10km - Complete 50km over a week
- Cycle 100km
- Set a daily distance goal
- Take on a team challenge
- Choose a distance with personal meaning
Walk it. Run it. Cycle it. Make it yours.
Step 3: Tell Your Story
Use your fundraising page to tell people what you’re doing, when you’re doing it and why you’re taking part.
Your reason could be personal, community-focused or simply about challenging yourself while supporting a great cause.
Whatever your reason, sharing your story helps people connect with your challenge and encourages them to support you.
Step 4: Share and Fundraise
Share your page with friends, family, colleagues and your community, and keep them updated as you work towards your goal.
Every donation and every share helps raise funds and awareness for CRITICAL’s volunteer responders.
We'll Help You Along the Way
Once registered, you’ll receive access to our Ready, Set, Respond! Fundraising Guide and additional resources to help make your challenge a success.
You choose the challenge. We’ll help you make the most of it.
Why Your Challenge Matters
CRITICAL relies on fundraising and community support to help equip, train and support our volunteer responders.
By taking part, you’re not only raising funds. You’re helping more people learn about the volunteers responding to emergencies in communities across Ireland.
Every challenge starts a conversation.
Every share raises awareness.
Every donation supports our work.
Ready to Respond?
READY
Register for €11.20 and create your fundraising page.
SET
Choose your challenge, timeframe and fundraising goal.
RESPOND
Walk, run or cycle, share your journey and support CRITICAL volunteers nationwide.
Your Challenge. Your Way. Your Impact.
Your Movement Saves Lives
By taking part in READY, SET, RESPOND! you’re not just getting active – you’re joining a powerful movement to support life-saving action.
Your efforts and donations help raise awareness and fund essential medical equipment, including defibrillators, resuscitation kits, and diagnostic tools, ensuring our responders have what they need to save lives.
Every contribution helps us continue this vital work, because in an emergency, every minute counts..
Have Questions or Need Help Getting Started?
Michele, our Community Fundraising Officer, is here to help!
Call: +353 86 820 8240
Email: michele@criticalcharity.ie
Or simply fill out the contact form.