Jacob’s Social Club members fund hospital X-ray machine
By Aideen O'Flaherty
THE LEGACY of the Jacob’s Biscuits Social Club, which was set up on the Belgard Road in 1980 for the factory’s workers and their families, has been cemented with their decision to fund a new X-ray machine in Tallaght University Hospital and to donate money to the LauraLynn Children’s Hospice.
The hospital’s new piece of radiography equipment, which was funded by the social club’s €200k donation, was unveiled in the National Children’s Hospital in Tallaght on Saturday morning, September 1, while the club also received details about the impact of their €200k donation to LauraLynn.
The social club’s donations, which totalled €400k, were funded by money the club received from Amazon when the social club handed over their building on the Belgard Road to the online giant in August 2017, where an Amazon data centre was being developed.
Maria Breen, the former Jacob’s Biscuits Social Club committee secretary, told The Echo: “We’re delighted. We knew the money was going to two good causes, so to see the difference it’s making is great.”
The club’s donation to the LauraLynn Children’s Hospice has been used to fund a variety of things for the charity, including storage sheds, ceiling art, the construction and design of a bereavement area, and a lighting overhaul.
The hospice helps children with life-limiting and terminal illnesses, by offering hospice services and support for children from birth up to 18-years-old.
Speaking to Ms Breen, Gillian Neary, who is LauraLynn’s fundraising manager, said: “I am quite moved by the huge difference you and your former colleagues from Jacob’s Social Club have made and will make for the families and staff at LauraLynn and in so many different ways.
“You and your colleagues should be very proud of the positive difference you are making in people’s lives between your donation to LauraLynn Children’s Hospice and to Tallaght Hospital.”
The new X-ray machine in Tallaght Hospital is a state-of-the-art piece of equipment which has replaced an out-of-date X-ray machine that the hospital got from Harcourt Street 20 years ago, which hadn’t been operational for some time and led to children being X-rayed on adult X-ray machines.
Manager of the National Children’s Hospital Foundation, Lilian McGovern, said: “With this new machine now in place, the radiology staff at the hospital now provide the very highest level of service to those who need this service.
“They are delighted with the new machine and are extremely grateful to the committee of Irish Biscuits for selecting the hospital as the recipient of their funds for this worthwhile project.”
