CARTRIDGE APPEAL PRINTS OUT CASH FOR GOOD CAUSES
DENIS O’DONOVAN’S RECYCLING APPEAL HAS RAISED OVER €100K
A recognisable face across North and Mid Cork is Denis O’Donovan whose tireless dedication and commitment to raising funds for worthy causes merited a reception in City Hall, Cork.
Embarking on an ink cartridge recycling campaign, Denis holds first-hand experience of the incredible care and attention received by cancer patients at the Mercy Hospital and took encouragement from his late wife Angela.
What started as an effort to raise a few thousand euro to say thank you to the staff of St. Therese’s Oncology Ward at the Mercy University Hospital for the wonderful care and attention given to his wife Angela after she was successfully treated for a Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma.
Over the next five years took on a life of its own, and to date over €100,000 has been raised for a number of Munster charities close to the heart of the O’Donovan family from Blarney through their recycling appeal.
Sadly, Angela passed away in 2013, but her legacy lives on in the wonderful work Denis and his son John undertake through the Recycling Appeal which has been in operation since mid-2011. That’s illustrated on over one million used printer laser and ink cartridges have been saved from landfill.
The campaign is run in conjunction with HP, the initiative sees Denis and John deliver boxes to registered companies throughout Cork and Munster, who fill them with empty cartridges, which are then collected free of charge by the duo.
The announcement that the Recycling Appeal has raised over€100,000 was made at a special reception in The Lord Mayor’s office at City Hall Cork. In attendance were members from the O’Donovan family; Les O’Reilly from HP; participating companies including Veolia and Novartis; Chief Superintendent at An Garda Síochána, Barry McPolin and some of the beneficiaries including representatives from the Mercy Hospital Foundation; South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital; and Fr Gerard, Prior of St. Mary’s Dominican Church.
Denis stated the successful campaign began after his family had first-hand experience of the incredible care and attention received by cancer patients at the Mercy.
“We wanted to give something back, something that would make a real difference, the absolutely fantastic support and reception we have received from businesses across Munster who go out of their way to keep the cartridges is unbelievable, and I want to thank them for their support to date,” he said.
“I would urge more companies to come on board – it’s a completely free service, we take away your empty printer cartridges which helps you, and you are raising much needed funds, which helps the Mercy and our other beneficiaries”.
This year the HP Planet Partner program celebrates 25 years making a difference protecting the planet and diverting waste from landfill, its Print Specialist Les O’Reilly, Print Specialist at HP commended Denis O’Donovan.
“I have high praise for Denis and his team who have voluntarily collected 1000s of HP Laser print and ink cartridges in Munster and surrounding areas over the past number of years. He is a passionate volunteer raising much needed funds supporting local worthy causes, and HP are delighted to support Denis and his recycling team,” he said.
To find out more about supporting the Recycling Appeal in aid of the Mercy Cancer CARE Centre, call (021) 4274076 or visit www.mercyfundraising.ie.