€3k raised from walk for LauraLynn Hospice
By Aideen O'Flaherty
OVER €3,000 has been raised by a local woman for the LauraLynn Children’s Hospice, after she held a walk in Tymon Park earlier this month, reports Aideen O’Flaherty.
Killinarden woman Eileen McClelland (71) was joined by 15 other people on the day of the walk, and she managed to raise the money for the charity as a result of donations from members of the community via sponsorship cards for the ladies who took part.
Ms McClelland also fundraises for Focus Ireland every Christmas by holding a raffle in Killinarden Community Centre, and she told The Echo that she gets involved in fundraising because she enjoys helping others and it gives her the chance to realise how lucky she has been.
“I was in Sacred Heart Church in Killinarden and I saw something about LauraLynn,” said Ms McClelland. “When I read it I thought, ‘Oh my God, we’re very lucky that we have very healthy kids’, and I wanted to do something to help.”
The LauraLynn Children’s Hospice provides palliative care for children with life-limiting conditions, and also provides support for the children’s families.
Ms McClelland, who is the mother of five grown-up children, added: “This is my second time doing the walk for LauraLynn, and it was brilliant. It was a lovely day and everyone enjoyed it.”
When asked about plans to make the walk an annual event, Ms McClelland said: “If God is good to me and I live to see another year, then I’ll do it again next year.”
Ms McClelland also wanted to extend thanks to Nathan and Anna from Darkey Kelly’s pub, who support her in all her fundraising efforts, and Sinn Fein TD for Dublin South-West Sean Crowe.
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