€4K raised for Marymount Hospice ‘In Memory of PJ’
Breaking her own records, a grand total of €4,000 was handed over to Marymount Hospice this week following fundraisers recently held by local woman, Patty Smyth.
The fundraiser ‘In Memory of PJ’ was held in memory of Rathcormac local, Patty’s late brother, PJ Delaney.
PJ, a well-known postman in the locality, sadly passed away in June 2021 at Marymount Hospice after a brief battle with cancer.
Now an annual occasion, the fundraiser organised in his memory, sees Patty shave her head publicly and take on challenging spinning sessions on local streets.
2023 saw the former athlete include both Mitchelstown and Fermoy in the fundraiser in the hopes of breaking last year’s collection total of approximately €3,650.
According to Patty, she was very ‘proud’ to hand over €4,000 to Marymount Hospice on Tuesday.
“I was so proud handing over €4,000 to Marymount Hospice in Cork today, where my older brother PJ (59) lost his battle with cancer in June 2021.
“I owe it to PJ for believing in me in my fitness journey during lockdown and for instilling a courageous side to myself by watching him take his bad news in the consultant’s room on more than one occasion, right on the chin.
“PJ, I salute you, along with your family and all your former work colleagues at Fermoy Post Office, who seemed to hold you in the highest esteem following your passing,” she said.
Earlier this month, the two-day fundraiser saw Patty spinning on her bike outside Farrell’s SuperValu in Mitchelstown on a Thursday followed on the Friday with a collection outside Fermoy Post Office, Patty getting her head shaved which was livestreamed online, and more spinning outside Herlihy’s Centra in Fermoy.
‘In Memory of PJ’ fundraisers have now amassed around €10,000 in total raised for charity, with the amount raised each year growing steadily.
The first year, which was all carried out virtually due to Covid-19, saw proceeds donated to Cork University Hospital, while 2022 and 2023 saw funds donated to Marymount Hospice in PJ’s memory.
Patty has thanked everyone who contributed and supported her in any and has said she ‘can’t believe’ the kindness people have shown her during her campaign.