Author Archives: gerryan

  1. Suzanne Holligan Memorial Walk for St Vincent’s and Tallaght Hospitals

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    Suzanne Holligan was a young Garda working in Greystones when she died from cancer, in August 2019, at just 35 years. In a most generous gesture, her grieving family and friends sought to have other cancer patients benefit. On Saturday, September 12th 2020 they organised a 10km walk in Glendalough National Park. 50 people turned out for the walk.

    Cancer/ Oncology care here in St. Vincent’s benefitted to the extent of €10,000 from this wonderful fundraising.

    We are deeply indebted to Suzanne’s parents, Tom and Nuala, her partner Dave and son Rian, and all their family and friends for this wonderful kindness at such a sad time for them.

    Suzanne’s Garda colleagues were most supportive and we are grateful to them also. Additionally we want to thank AMES, Athy for their sponsorship.

    See photos below from the event.

  2. Mountnugent GAA Club, Co Cavan Fundraising Cycle raises €4,040 for Cystic Fibrosis

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    Mountnugent GAA Club, in Co Cavan has selected the Cystic Fibrosis Unit in St. Vincent’s Hospital as its chosen charity for 2020.

    On Saturday, August 1st last, they organised a sponsored 100km cycle in Counties Cavan, Longford, Meath and Westmeath to fundraise for the C.F. Unit. About 60 cyclists from the club and other local clubs took part. It was a great social event and many of the families of the cyclists were in the village to welcome them back. Refreshments were provided by the Riverside Café in Mountnugent and donations were picked up by the cyclists and their families leading up to the Cycle.

    Mountnugent G.A.A. Club recently presented a total of €4,000 from the cycle. We also received additional donations of €40 directly.

    This fantastic effort is a major contribution to our care of patients with C.F. and we are really appreciative of the great support.

    The event was covered by the Anglo Celt newspaper   https://www.anglocelt.ie/2020/09/28/cycle-raises-20k-for-club-and-charity/

  3. Blossom Tree Ball 2020 in memory of Jenny McGovern (Taaffe)

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    Pippa O’Connor and her husband Brian Ormond host an annual Blossom Tree Ball, in aid of different charities. The 2020 event held in February last, was in aid of the Jenny McGovern Pancreatic Cancer Clinical Database in St. Vincent’s University Hospital. Jenny was a good friend and mentor to Pippa & Brian and sadly passed away from Pancreatic Cancer in August 2019.   All funds from the ball were to go to finance the development of a  Pancreatic Cancer Clinical Database in St. Vincent’s .

    The 2020 function was a record success raising funds and pledges totalling almost €203,000. This will enable the work for the database to commence immediately. It will make a major contribution to the successful treatment of patients with Pancreatic Cancer.

    Jenny’s husband, Alan, expressed the motivation so well on the fundraising page as follows:

    “In memory of Jenny McGovern (Taaffe), who passed away in August 2019 following a devastating Pancreatic cancer diagnosis in 2018.

     One of Jenny’s final wishes was to help others. She wanted her death to be used as a catalyst to raise the profile of this awful disease. Currently in Ireland, the HSE have an administrative database which provides certain key performance indicators of the National Cancer Control Programme but does not allow for the collection or interrogation of clinical details for Pancreatic Cancer”

    Words cannot adequately express our thanks to Alan, Pippa and Brian for this amazing contribution to St Vincent’s and our patients,

     

    The photos below capture the presentation of the fundraising proceeds.

    L-R Mr John Hickey, Prof. Kevin Conlon, James & Rory McGovern, Pippa O’Connor, Mr Tom Gallagher and Dr David Fennelly

    L-R. Alan McGovern, James & Rory McGovern, Pippa O’Connor and Brian Ormond.

  4. Support the Frontline Hero Challenge

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    Frontline Heroes Challenge is a virtual event to fundraise for different hospitals and St. Vincent’s Foundation have signed up for this initiative.

    This challenge is a virtual run, walk, treadmill, cycle or any form of exercise where you can record your kilometres. It will run until the end of this year.

    Some companies are using this challenge as a team building challenge.

    Best of luck and our thanks to Sisk Healthcare who have signed up 48 employees to take on the challenge this September.

    Bling Hunters have put this event together to show support to all the front line staff for putting their lives at risk every day to keep us safe

    https://www.popupraces.ie/race/frontline-hero-challenge/

    If you would like to sign up to an online fundraising page to support St. Vincent’s in this way, you can set up an iDonate fundraising page for us at this link

    https://www.idonate.ie/5205_st–vincent-s-foundation.html

     

  5. Neasa’s sponsored walk 272km

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    Neasa Ni Chualain from Connemara, County Galway recently undertook a fundraising walk to support Pancreatic care and research here in St. Vincent’s.

    In a highly innovative approach, she decided to walk 272km because that is the distance from her home in Connemara to St. Vincent’s Hospital. Supported by family and friends, and observing Covid-19 restrictions, she completed the challenge locally, a year after her surgery in St. Vincent’s.

    Neasa fundraising proceeds came to a fantastic total €4,574 and will be a hugely welcome contribution to Pancreatic care, which is currently receiving significant investment in St. Vincent’s.

    Neasa is pictured below with family and friends

  6. Smile With Your Eyes

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    Lorna Winters and her family are passionately involved in fundraising to combat Neuroendocrine Carcinoid Tumour (NET). Lorna’s husband, Justin, is currently battling this disease under the care of Prof Dermot O’Toole and his team in St. Vincents’s.

    In a most creative approach Lorna has suggested that people would take a Mask Selfie, donate €4 and tag four friends or make a personal donation to this critical cause. All funds will be used to enhance the research and equipment for NET in St. Vincent’s Hospital, which is the National Centre of Excellence.

    Lorna’s campaign has captured the public imagination with features in the media.

    The link to support this wonderful fundraising and timely fundraising is: https://www.gofundme.com/f/smile-with-your-eyes  

    We owe a huge thanks to Lorna and her family for this generosity.​

     

  7. Jillian McNulty’s Valentines Ball 2020

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    In a year that has created many heroes it would be remiss of us not to recognise someone who has done so much, for others, over many years.

    Jillian McNulty from County Longford, has done countless things, over several years, to raise funds for Cystic Fibrosis and other causes. This year she organised a Valentine’s Ball on 15th February last in Lough Rynn Castle, Mohill, Co. Leitrim. Despite her own significant health challenges she created a fantastic occasion which was also a superb fundraising success.

    Jillian recently presented proceeds of €3,500 from the event – of which €2,500 will be used for the Cystic Fibrosis unit and €1,000 for the Renal unit here in St. Vincent’s.

    On behalf of our patients we owe so much to this extraordinary young woman.

    Thank you, once again, Jillian.

  8. Mountnugent GAA Fundraising Cycle for Cystic Fibrosis 

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    Mountnugent GAA Club, in Co Cavan have selected the Cystic Fibrosis Unit in St. Vincent’s Hospital as its chosen charity for 2020. On Saturday, August 1st they will have a sponsored cycle of 100km and 80km in Counties Cavan, Longford, Meath and Westmeath to fundraise for the C.F. Unit.

    Anyone wishing to donate in support of this great effort can do so by following the DONATE button on our website and selecting “Cystic Fibrosis” as the medical area to benefit.

    We are very grateful to Mountnugent GAA Club for this support.

     

  9. Columbanus Community Bingo for I.C.U. Staff Support

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    In a most innovative and entertaining community fundraising initiative, Janice Duffy spearheaded the Columbanus community in Milltown, Dublin 14 in organising a series of bingo sessions, in conformance with Covid-19 restrictions.

    Janice and her team are continuing with this initiative, which to date, has raised €2,500 for the staff of the Intensive Care Unit.

    We are supremely grateful to Janice and her colleagues who made this happen.

     

  10. Crutchless Ciaron’s 25km Challenge

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    Ciaron Noble from Brittas Bay, County Wicklow makes little of his dealing with Cerebral Palsy. An amazing man, Ciaron set up a GoFundMe page and set himself the challenge of completing 25km over a five day period recently. In doing so, he has raised almost €28,000 which was shared equally between Enable Ireland and St. Vincent’s Foundation, for frontline staff support.

    We are most grateful to Ciaron for presenting proceeds of €13,501.22 to St. Vincent’s.

    Thank you Ciaron.