The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Chernobyl charity coffee morning a great success
“Couldn’t have gone better” - these are the words of Mary O’Leary after her group, the ‘Friends of the Children of Chernobyl Killarney’ held a successful charity coffee morning last Thursday.
“Every sort of a cake under the sun” was how Mary described the assortment of sweets and treats that were served at the Killarney Golf and Fishing Club.
Over €2,500 was raised from last Thursday mornings event and Mary said this huge amount of money is typical of the generous spirit that exists in Killarney.
“The people of Killarney, all over really, they are great. The generosity of the people in Kerry are unbelievable. It’s a fantastic amount of money to raise,” said Mary.
“Without the support of all the people of Killarney and surrounding towns none of the work that we do would be able to happen. Sincerely, on behalf of everyone involved in the committee, we would like to thank everyone for their support.”
The Killarney group Killarney works with and supports Garadasia Psychiatric Hospital this hospital is 25 miles north of Pinsk.
It in the country side very isolated with a small village nearby, Killarney looks after a 34 bedded house, all male patients, aged 18 to 40; some of whom are young men who would have been to Ireland over the years and unfortunately because of circumstances such as no employment, living conditions and alcohol abuse, depression is evident.
In the past two years however, through events such as these coffee mornings, the Killarney group has helped to raise enough funds to fund the hospital and its residents with a new kitchen, dining tables, chairs and even slippers for the residents.
The Killarney group also helps to fund the feeding of families and different interpreters shop every week buying and delivering food to these families.
Incontinent pads and clothing and bedding are also supplied to two orphanages for the young children and also to the old folks home.