Penny’s card to raise funds for sick children
The artistic flair of a young girl from Nenagh is to receive a major showing, as a Christmas card she designed will be popping through letter boxes all over Ireland and abroad this festive season.
Proceeds from the sales of the card created by ten-year-old Penny O’ Brien will be donated to the Children’s Health Foundation, helping to ensure that every sick child across Ireland gets the best possible treatment the health service can offer.
Penny, who herself had a very serious illness, is one of eight young patients to launch a festive Christmas card collection with MoonPig. The sales of Penny’s card and that of the seven other incredible children will raise funds for the hospitals that cared for them.
Penny is a daughter the Nenagh accountant Kevin O’ Brien, proprietor of Kevin O’ Brien & Associates of 24 Pearse Street and Sinead O' Brien, our former Advertising Manager and cherished colleague here in the Nenagh Guardian, who left us in 2020 to guide the family through the emotional challenges that she, Kevin and Penny, along with her two sisters, were facing after Penny's serious condition was first diagnosed.
Penny and the seven other young artists have each experienced care at Children’s Health Ireland hospitals and urgent care centres at Temple Street, Crumlin, Connolly and Tallaght.
In coming together to create a Christmas card collection, they are now using their creativity to give back to the hospitals where they were treated and help other sick children across Ireland.
The collection contains ten unique and festive card designs, each reflecting the magic and joy of Christmas in the individual style of each young artist. Joining Penny in this wonderful team effort are Caoimhe, aged 5, Tullow, Co Carlow; and six Dubliners, Brody, aged 8, from Sallynoggin; Hazel, aged 19, of Kimmage; Freddie, aged 9, of Castleknock; Darcie, aged 7, Tallaght; Roisin, aged 9, Cookstown, and Chloe, aged 9, Walkinstown.
After being diagnosed with a rare form of bone cancer in 2020, Penny underwent treatment in Children’s Health Ireland at Crumlin and received loving care throughout the time she was there.
When asked about her favourite thing at Christmas, Penny told us that she was excited about “having Christmas Day without having to go to the hospital and being able to see all my cousins.”
GRATITUDE
These cards were not just deigned by Penny and the other children to bring joy, and hope, but also to showcase their gratitude for the care that they received from their time in Children’s Health Ireland hospitals.
All of the proceeds from each card will go directly toward supporting other sick children and their families this Christmas, ensuring they have everything they need to fight illness and injury at this time of year.
Starting now, the collection is available for purchase at https://www.moonpig.com/ie/childrens-health-foundation/, making it easy for everyone to make a difference with every card they send.
Liam Redmond, Corporate Manager, for Children’s Health Foundation, expressed his gratitude: “We are so proud of Penny and the other seven talented patients that created these beautiful cards.
“We hope people help support them on their mission to raise funds for other sick children across Ireland.
“A heartfelt thank you to everyone at MoonPig for making this possible.”
Alex Toft, General Manager at MoonPig commented: “This Christmas, help support Penny and the other young patients by choosing a card that brings joy not only to your friends and family but also to children in need.
“Every card purchased is a step towards bringing hope and vital resources to sick children across Ireland.”