Author Archives: gerryan

  1. Win some Winter Warmth

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    We all know the colder months are coming so here’s your chance to win a trailer of turf, beech and ash firewood (with delivery provided within a 25km radius of Johnstownbridge, Co Kildare) whilst supporting our work. Our great friends Louis and Caroline have organised the “Winter Warmer Raffle”, giving you a chance to win this heart-warming prize and others, all kindly donated by local friends and family. Entry to the draw starts at just €5 and are available here: https://www.idonate.ie/raffle/WinterWarmerRaffle on iDonate.ie with the lucky tickets being pulled on 31st October 2025. Good luck everyone!

    The full list of prizes to be won:
    FIRST PRIZE: A trailer of turf, beech and ash firewood (delivery within 25 KM of Johnstownbridge, Co Kildare)
    SECOND PRIZE: A €250 One4All voucher
    THIRD PRIZE: A luxurious Jelly Cat and chocolate hamper
    FOURTH, FIFTH & SIXTH PRIZE: One of 3 €50 Christmas tree vouchers for Martinstown Christmas Tree Farm, Enfield

    All of the prizes have been generously donated by Louis and Fran Robinson, The Greville Family Johnstownbridge and Paula and Jimmy Holton. We send our thanks to them all.

  2. Cardiff Half Marathon

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    Congratulations to our supporter, Mary O’Donnell, who completed the Cardiff Half Marathon recently in memory of her parents, Brendan and Eda Donnelly. To show her appreciation for what she describes as, “the wonderful care” they received at St Vincent’s University Hospital, Mary decided to raise funds for St Vincent’s Foundation. So far, she has raised over €800, exceeding the target she set herself, to help patient care at the hospital.

    We are incredibly grateful to Mary for thinking of us and we send thanks to her family and friends who have contributed to her iDonate fundraising page, here Support Fundraiser in the name of Eda and Brendan Donnelly on iDonate.ie.

    We are proud to share Mary’s picture, with her “Finishers” medal and photos of her parents which she carried with her on the day. We know they spurred her on during the run and that it was an emotional and special day for her. We are grateful to have been a part of it.

  3. Dollymount Ladies Golf Society AGM

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    Ann Baldrey, Captain of the Dollymount Ladies Golf Society presented St. Vincent’s Foundation with €1,020 at their recent AGM in Clontarf, Dublin.

    The ladies raised these funds through a raffle in support of our work for Pancreatic Cancer and in memory of the late Paul Morrissey.

    We are touched by this support and the warm welcome given to Helen, from St. Vincent’s Foundation, who joined the meeting to say a few words about our work and the need for such fundraising.

    Our thanks go to everyone that supported the raffle with prizes and ticket sales.

    Pictured is Ann Baldrey presenting the fundraising proceeds to Helen McVeigh, Development Director, St. Vincent’s Foundation

  4. Small steps – Big Feat 100km Challenge for St. Vincent’s Foundation

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    We were delighted when Amanda Dowse got in touch with us to say she was setting herself a 100km walking challenge through the month of August to raise funds. Her son and other members of her family are being treated at St Vincent’s University Hospital (Herbert Wing) so this was her way of supporting our patient care for those with Crohns Disease and Ulcerative Colitis, whilst recognising the “care and compassion and above all, support” she and her family receive from our medical teams.

    We are very grateful to Amanda and to everyone that supported her throughout the huge challenge. Even knee surgery didn’t stop her achieving her walking target and raising over €1,600. Thank you all so much.

    The challenge started in Knockmealdown in Co Waterford and took in hikes in Donegal, Dublin, Kildare, Wicklow, Wexford and ended at the beautiful Glendalough.

    If you would like to take on a challenge to raise important funds and show support for our work please get in touch with us at stvincentsfoundation@svhg.ie or by calling us on 01 221 5065

     

    Pictured is Amanda on top of the world with her brother Ciaran!

     

  5. Making a lasting legacy for St Vincent’s Foundation

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    September marks “My Legacy Month” when charities join together to encourage people to think about leaving a gift in their will. St Vincent’s Foundation are proud to be a founding member of the “My Legacy” group and we are grateful to everyone that has already chosen to remember us.

    If you are considering writing or updating your will a gift to St Vincent’s Foundation will enable us to continue to improve patient care, further medical research and support education and training for our front line staff. You will be helping future healthcare and making a real difference for others – and you will be part of our own history of legacy giving. One of our hospitals, St Michael’s in Dun Loaghaire, was initially funded in part by a local legacy gift nearly 150 years ago. The long-lasting impact of that support can be seen today through the work of the hospital today for the community and indeed across our other hospitals, St Vincent’s University Hospital and St Vincent’s Private, which have also benefitted from the kindness of legacy gifts over the years.

    If you would like more information, please contact us at stvincentsfoundation@svhg.ie. We also delighted to say that Mangan O’Beirne Solicitors offer a free will-making consultation and are contactable at 01 668 4333 or via email, solicitors@manganobeirne.ie.

    Pictured with Niall O’Sullivan, Chairperson of My Legacy is Helen McVeigh, Development Director of St. Vincent’s Foundation

  6. Glenlo Abbey Charity Day & Raffle, Saturday 21st June 2025 for Cancer Care in St. Vincent’s University Hospital

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    We are most grateful to the members of Glenlo Abbey Golf Club in Galway for organising a Charity Golf Day and iDonate fundraising Raffle to raise funds for Cancer care and services for young people here in St. Vincent’s University Hospital.

    As they outlined on their iDonate fundraising page: “Every year, Glenlo Abbey Golf Club draws attention to and raises money for a chosen charity. This year, the Men’s Club and the Ladies’ Club are working together to fundraise for St Vincent’s Foundation, Childrens Cancer Care. St. Vincent’s Foundation is the official fundraising body for St Vincent’s Healthcare Group, a voluntary organisation that seeks to improve the environment and outcomes for current and future young patients with Cancer. Patients are from around the country including Galway City and County. Improving the lives of young cancer patients is the number one priority and is at the heart of the Care they give.
    It is with appreciation and support that we have chosen St Vincent’s Foundation for our charity this year. Please help us make a difference to young cancer patients.”

    Their fundraising has raised an amazing total of €14,665. These funds will be dedicated to developing further the capacity of our Cancer Care services here in the hospital and we would like to express our deep appreciation to the member of Glenlo Abbey Golf Club, their sponsors and all who donated to this most successful event.

  7. The Print to Keep Project for Loved Ones

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    Funds from St. Vincent’s Foundation donors are being used to provide a tender keepsake for loved ones saying a final farewell to family members.   The laminated card has a fingerprint with a heart shape  in the centre.    It is small enough to be kept in a purse or card holder,  or can kept at home on a bedside table.   It symbolises the print our loved ones have on our lives and serves to remind us that even when they have left us, they remain close to our hearts.   The “Print to Keep” is a touching example of how a small token can make a difference at a very difficult time and we are proud that it was awarded the Hospice Friendly Hospitals Quality Improvements Awards in 2023.

    Joan Killeen, our Directorate of Nursing / Emergency Medicine at St. Vincent’s University Hospital says;  “A Print to Keep is an initiative of staff in St. Agnes ward, St. Vincent’s University Hospital. A Print to Keep aims to support families and friends at end-of-life by offering a keepsake of their loved one. Family and friends can avail of this wallet sized card with a fingerprint of their loved one on one side and a sentimental poem on the other side.”

     Thank you to everyone that supports St. Vincent’s Foundation and our teams working in Palliative and End-of-Life care.    You are helping us make a real difference.

  8. 64 km challenge in memory of Patrick Smyth

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    In memory of her best friend and cousin, Patrick Smyth (pictured below) – Niamh Smyth set up a fundraising page in his memory and organised with friends and family to do a 64km challenge – 64km representing the distance from Patrick’s home in Clogherhead to St. Vincent’s University
    Hospital.

    Patrick unfortunately passed away on 15th August 2023 after a long battle with cancer. To celebrate his birthday and to carry on his legacy Niamh and family set about this challenge. Their iDonate page raised a magnificent total of €9,133 for Cancer services here in St. Vincent’s and we are most grateful to Niamh and all involved in this challenge.

    Patrick’s mother Ann wrote the following message to thank all involved:

    “We would like to thank all of Patrick’s friends and family who participated in the numerous challenges undertaken both at home and abroad. From rowing challenges in Australia, to cycling the 64 km from St Vincent’s Hospital to Patricks home in Clogherhead, to joint 64km runs in Vancouver and Perth to countless other walks, runs and challenges, and to everyone who supported so generously – the amount raised of € 9,133, has been phenomenal. Such a wonderful tribute to Patrick, the outpouring of love and support is amazing and a great testament to him. Patrick would be blown away by it all. A very special thanks to Niamh, without whom this fundraising challenge would not have become a reality – we are all so proud of you.

    Finally, to all of Patrick’s Oncology Team, Palliative Care Team and the outstanding Staff of St. Anne’s Ward – we can never thank you enough for the care, empathy, professionalism and kindness extended to Patrick, and ourselves, over the four years of his illness.
    Ann, Oliver, Aine & Ciara x xx(Mam, Dad & Sisters) ❤️”

  9. Ladies Golf Club at Elm Park Golf Club, Charity Day for Breast Cancer

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    Thank you to the Ladies Golf Club at Elm Park Golf Club for nominating St Vincent’s Foundation to benefit from their annual Charity Golf day.  

    We are very grateful to members for choosing to support our work for breast cancer at St. Vincent’s University Hospital.   

    The ladies will be dressed in pink for the day and we extend our thanks to everyone that has donated prizes for the winners, the best dressed and the lucky raffle winners.  Your support is really appreciated.    Good luck everyone – have a great day.