€29k raised for Suaimhneas
Climbers undertake Four Peaks challenge
Eoin Kelly and his intrepid band of mountain climbers called to Suaimhneas recently to hand over a cheque for €29,000, which they raised by completing their unbelievable achievement in climbing Ireland’s four highest peaks in a 24-hour period over the May Bank Holiday weekend.
This daunting undertaking commenced at the unearthly hour of 5am at the foot of Lugnaquilla in Co Wicklow, and having conquered that the group headed north to climb Slieve Donard in Co Down. Having reached halftime, so to speak, our energetic band headed across country to conquer Mweelrea in Co Mayo before heading south to tackle the daunting slopes of Carrauntoohill in the dead of night, reaching their final summit as dawn broke the following morning.
This unbelievable achievement by Eoin, his brother Liam and their friends Brian McCormack, Trevor Connolly, Hughie Flannery, Mark Flaherty and Cian McDonnell, and is all the more remarkable when one considers that, in addition to the four energy draining ascents they also had to cope with up to four-hour journeys by road between climbs.
Speaking on behalf of the group on their visit, Eoin spoke of the influence Suaimhneas and North Tipperary Hospice had on his life through his mother, Lelia’s, Involvement in the organisation for all of 40 years. Lelia’s commitment and dedication to the Hospice was, he said, what motivated him to organise the fundraising event, which he originally hoped might raise something in the region of €5,000.
Both he the rest of the group were totally dumbfounded at the amount of money finally raised which, he said, was a testament to the amazing work done and services provided to cancer patients and their families down through the years, and he thanked the many hundreds of people who had donated so generously to the event.
In welcoming Eoin and his friends to Suaimhneas, Nenagh branch chairman, Paddy Heffernan, thanked them for their amazing efforts in raising such an unbelievable amount of money. He was delighted to have the opportunity to show them around the premises and give them an idea of the many supports and services provided.
He was especially pleased to welcome Eoin’s mother, Lelia, who for over 40 years had been a mainstay of the hospice movement in North Tipperary until her recent retirement from the Committee and Board of Directors. Lelia and her other long-serving colleague, Kay O’Donoghue, were the main drivers in the original purchase and development of the cancer support centre at Suaimhneas, which has played such an important role in the delivery of services in the Nenagh area for almost 20 years. Paddy also welcomed his fellow committee members Pat Delaney, Nessa Shanahan, Fionnuala Gill and Orlaith Ryan who were also present for the visit.