Teamwork makes the dream work for Kerry charities

ORGANISERS of the recent Kerry Hospice Foundation and Threshing Cancer fundraising night at Kingdom Greyhound Stadium said they’re pleased with how the night went, despite the weather causing problems.

The weather warning in place for Saturday night may have caused the cancellation of the last two races but it certainly didn’t dampen the enthusiasm of those gathered together on the night.

A one-off event organised to help raise funds for a number of cancer support charities, including Recovery Haven in Tralee and the Oncology Unit in University Hospital Kerry (UHK), organiser Brendan Ferris said that these charities are vital in the community.

“We’re very happy with how the whole night went, I suppose we were a bit disappointed with how the weather turned out, but we still had a great crowd on the night and it looked like people enjoyed themselves which is all that matters,” Brendan told The Kerryman on Monday.

“A lot of people in our locality who passed away in the last two years would have used some of the Kerry Hospice services and facilities so we’re very partial to this organisation,” he said.

“Recovery Haven too, they provide such a wonderful service to those who have suffered from cancer themselves and also to the family members of those suffering,” he continued.

“They provide massages and wig making services and counselling - say if a mother and a father in one family have cancer, counselling could be especially important to their young children who might not know what is going on or why their parents are sick. They might feel like it is their fault, so in this way, counselling is a vital service.

Even with the success of this year’s event, Brendan is quick to rule out a return to the dogs next year.

“We might do it again in three of four years time but, for now, we don’t think we can go back looking for money so soon again so we are looking to mix it up again to do something different next year,” he finished.

All photos by Fergus Dennehy. Rachel Hannon, Tim Mulvihill, Nora Feeley, Kathleen Joy, Chris Mulvihill, John Mulvihill, Catriona O’Leary, Brendan Ferris and Olive Mulvihill pictured at the Kingdom Greyhound Stadium on Saturday night.

Matthew Green, Ava Coffey, Michael Moloney, James Coffey and Sheila Coffey pictured enjoying a meal at the ‘Threshing Cancer’ night at the dogs fundraiser on Saturday night.

Breda O’Sullivan, Michelle Jones, Gemma Ash, Maureen Cahillane and Jerry Devine supporting the Kerry Hospice Foundation at the Greyhound Stadium on Saturday night.

Kathleen Casey O’Connell, Ann Ronan and Ann Kelliher enjoying the ‘Threshing Cancer’ fundraiser on Saturday night.

John Reidy, Maurice Lyons and Moss Kennedy pictured at the ‘Threshing Cancer’ night at the dogs fundraiser on Saturday night.

Dienna Ferris, Melissa Ferris, Lorraine Hickey and Mary Ferris at the Kingdom Greyhound Stadium on Saturday night.

Noreen Flaherty, Mary Maher and Christina Buckley were still on the lookout for their first winner at the night at the dogs.