Pink Day in Dunnes Stores Cornelscourt October 2024

We are most grateful to Dunnes Stores Cornelscourt who hosted a Pink Day weekend to raise funds for Breast Cancer Care & Research here in S.V.U.H.

This, again, reflects a continued support through the involvement of a much-loved staff member, Hazel Brack. Hazel’s colleagues and Store management all joined enthusiastically in the event and raised over €3,450 on the day.

We are deeply grateful to all, especially to Hazel.

Sale of Sunflowers for Cystic Fibrosis Unit

After the enormous success of the inaugural event in 2023, we honestly did not think it was possible that it would be surpassed.  It was. Philip Dunne in partnership with Elaine Timmins, along with support from their families, friends and community, created an acre of sunflowers. Building on the success of the first event, they enhanced it to be effectively a Festival of Sunflowers.

As well as the sunflowers, they had photo opportunities, ice cream and coffee stands, over two weekends and an additional Sunday. With this magnificent creativity and phenomenal hard work the brilliant sum of €9,635.52 was raised and contributed to the C.F. Unit in St. Vincent’s Hospital.

This now brings to almost €19,000 the contribution from Philip and Elaine’s efforts.

On behalf of our patients, we cannot overstate our appreciation.

Climbs4Kevin and In Memory donations and fundraising in memory of Kevin Coleman RIP for Sarcoma Research & Awareness

We report on the response of an amazing family to the tragic death of a much loved man. Sadly, in July 2022, aged 29, Kevin Coleman was diagnosed with Sarcoma, a rare form of cancer. He underwent radiotherapy, surgery and chemotherapy in subsequent months, in St. Vincent’s. Unfortunately, the cancer spread and Kevin passed away 12 months after his diagnosis, on 14th July 2023, just over a week after his 30th birthday and 24 hours after his wedding to Megan Conlon, his long-term partner.

The incredible response of the family was to put their energy to making a difference to other people who encounter this terrible situation. They requested donations in lieu of flowers at Kevin’s funeral to which there was an unprecedented response. Their local GAA Club nominated the Kevin Coleman fundraising to benefit from their 2023 event of their annual “Riverstown Road to Sam”. A series of GAA competitions, table quizzes, and auctions together raised €3,350 for this great cause.  In total these activities raised the outstanding sum of €10,269 for Sarcoma Research & Awareness but the best was yet to come!

Hiking and climbing and other outdoor activities played an important part in Kevin’s life. He took on one of the biggest peaks in 2011, completing Kilimanjaro for charity aged just 18. Motivated by this background Kevin’s family and supporters established the Climbs4Kevin Challenge. Over two days – 12th & 13th July 2024 his family members and friends climbed a peak in each of the four Irish Provinces.

This gruelling challenge raised an unbelievable total of €72,600. This means that all these endeavours together contributed almost €83,000 to Sarcoma Research & Awareness.