Killruddery gala night in aid of Tanzanian kids
A FUNDRAISING gala for Tanzanian children with cancer will take place at Killruddery on Saturday, October 27.
Funds raised will go the charity ‘ Their Lives Matter’ (TLM), founded by Windgates native Dr Trish Scanlan, who is a paediatric oncologist. She has been working in Tanzania since 2006.
At the gala event there will be a drinks reception, followed by dinner, auction, raffle and music. Comedian Andrea Farrell will be the MC on the night.
The mission of TLM is to treat every child with cancer free of charge. Dr Scanlan started in a tiny shed-like ward with one local medical colleague and five nurses. Less than 100 new children attended in 2005 and no more than 10 per cent of these survived long term. In 2017 more than 600 children attended and long term survival rates approach 50 per cent.
Dr Scanlan divides her time training young doctors and nurses, fundraising and treating the children. The charity relies heavily on fundraising, as all services are provided free.
Dr Scanlan was awarded the inaugural alumni award for medicine by UCD in 2014 and a lifetime award for contributions to cancer prevention by The International Prevention Research Institution iPRI in 2018.
Dr Scanlan has had her own direct personal experience with cancer. For two extended periods between December 2012 and September 2014 she returned to Bray to receive treatment for breast cancer. As a result, she has a far deeper understanding of the needs and struggles of her little patients and is in awe of their strength.
Dr Scanlan would like to especially Lord Anthony and Lady Fionnuala Ardee of Killruddery Estate, whose very generous support of the charity has made this event possible.
Organisers are inviting sponsors to support the event, in any form, including sponsorship of an element of the event, donations, auction items and raffle prizes.
Dr Scanlan will fly home from Tanzania to attend the event and hopes to see lots of familiar faces there. ‘We are calling on everyone to log onto the website and buy their tickets and come support the event, which we hope will be a fantastic evening,’ said a spokeswoman.
Tickets are €100 and available at wearetlm.org.