Fill up the trolleys for Ellie’s Appeal !
By Hayden Moore
NOW in its fourth year, Ellie’s Xmas Heart Appeal is making one more big push for their Crumlin United Fun Day to bring in even more donations after they received and delivered more than 10 trolleys of toys to sick children in Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital last Christmas.
Ellie Carlile and her family brought more than 10 trolleys filled with toys to Our Lady's Children’s Hospital
Just four months old at the time, Ellie spent the next week on life support after contracting a norovirus in hospital and the following ten weeks in the Intensive Care Unit of Our Lady’s with other complications.
The concept for the appeal came when Ellie’s brother Alex was concerned that she would not make it home in time for Christmas.
Year on year the number of clubs involved grows resulting in more donations being received, with last year their biggest to date after doubling the number of trolleys full of toys for the ward.
The community can donate by visiting Bluebell United, Crumlin United or the big tree in the Ashleaf Shopping Centre (which is split with St Vincent De Paul) and leave presents under the trees.
Assumption Primary School in Walkinstown, where Ellie’s family are from, are also backing the appeal after she started school there last year.
“It just keeps growing and growing with more and more clubs getting involved every year – we’ve already started receiving money donations too,” said Ellie’s mam, Elaine.
“Last year we raised over €2,500, which was enough to buy an electric bed for Our Lady’s, so we’re hoping that we can get there again.
“Dunne’s in the Ashleaf Shopping Centre have let us bagpack in there to hopefully raise more money, so we’re going to be in there from six to ten on Wednesday [December 18].”
Ellie gets multiple tests a year on her heart and kidney and her condition has improved, although she is still prone to infection.
On Saturday from 10am to 2pm, Ellie’s Xmas Heart Appeal will be holding their fun day full of inflatable games, face-painting, candy floss and more in Crumlin United’s clubhouse before they hand over the donations alongside Santa to Our Lady’s on Sunday, December 22.
“Paul and Sabrina Donnelly really go out of their way to put together the fun day and all off their own backs.
“We brought Ellie to see Santy the other day and she was telling him how excited she was to be his little helper when they visit the children in Our Lady’s – she just gets so excited for it.”
TAGS Tallaght
