MARY’S BIG CHARITY FUNDRAISER
DESPITE life throwing a very harsh curve ball at a Meelin woman who is receiving palliative care, the kindness and heart of Mary Cregan will shine bright at a major fund-raiser for four charities on Friday night.
Mary was diagnosed with a brain tumour four years ago when she was just 30 years old and she received treatment. Unfortunately, the tumour returned last year. Despite everything which Mary is currently going through, the generous spirit told The Corkman that there are “many people going through worse than me every day.”
“And I was really grateful to have the support of those amazing charities. I felt I wanted to give something back by organising a fund-raiser for them,” said Mary. Mary was described as being “exceptional” at the recently held launch of the fundraising night by her father John, who is the chairman of Limerick GAA County Board. He said the launch night should have been his daughter’s as the charities she had chosen had helped her so much through her own cancer diagnosis.
The four charities that will receive funding are the Brain Tumour Association of Ireland, Bru Columbanus which provides accommodation for the families of patients at CUH, ACT – the Aid Cancer Treatment organisation which works to improve quality of life for cancer patients and BHOC – Bandon Hyperbaric Oxygen Centre. This has oxygen chambers which give patients large doses of oxygen which helps promote healing.
At the launch, John said that Milford Care Centre and the Daffodil Nurses were “absolutely fantastic.” He also heaped praise on the Irish Cancer Society.
Speaking about his much loved daughter Mary, John said: “Despite her illness, she always looked out for others. She has been helping people all her life. With Mary it was never about herself. And she has done that all her life.”
He also paid huge thanks to Jim Barry and Eileen Kelly, who very kindly stepped in to organise the night which will be held on Friday at the Devon Inn on Mary’s behalf.
Mary’s kindness and spirit along with the Trojan work of Jim Barry and Eileen Kelly has meant that this fundraiser has greatly struck a chord with so many throughout Duhallow and further afield. While Mary had hoped to raise in the region of €600-€700 that figure has been blown out of the water, as a Go Fund Me page which was set up is already hitting the €10,000 mark. The concert night, ‘Help Fight the Big C,’ will take place in the Devon Inn at 9pm on Friday night with music by Paddy Quilligan and Liam O’Connor. There will also be an auction with 11 unique items up for grabs. There will also be a raffle and disco. Monies raised will go to Mary’s four chosen charities.