Pictures: Domnick Walsh
The Rose of Tralee festival has announced a new partnership with Cliona’s Foundation – a national charity supporting families with seriously sick children.
The campaign was launched in Killarney by reigning Rose of Tralee, New York Rose, Roisin Wiley who is currently in Ireland as part of her role with the festival.
While in town Roisin met with the Howard family whose two-year old-son, Seán, was recently diagnosed with a progressive genetic condition which means he needs a great deal of care.
Róisín said: “The Howards are such a wonderful family and Seán is a bright and loving boy. It was a real privilege to spend time with them and to learn about the love and care they give to Seán and his brother Dan.
“I am so excited to be walking the Camino to raise much needed funds for Cliona’s Foundation to help families throughout the country”.
Roisin is now an ambassador for Cliona’s Foundation and will be joining a cohort of Roses and Rose Escorts in walking the Camino De Santiago to raise funds and awareness this April. All funds raised will go directly to providing financial support to the families that the foundation supports.
Cliona’s is a national charity providing financial assistance directly to parents of seriously sick children with life-limiting or chronic complex care needs to help with the non-medical expenses related to caring for their child. Since 2008 the foundation has provided financial assistance to over 1,300 families.
The foundation was set up by Brendan and Terry Ring, following the death of their 15-year-old daughter, Cliona, from an inoperable brain tumour in 2006;
Over the years, as Cliona underwent numerous different hospital treatments, Brendan and Terry were struck by the number of families, facing enormous financial hardship, on the brink of financial free-fall, blindsided by non-medical expenses piling up. They saw at first-hand the enormous toll it took on these families, already struggling to cope with the nightmare of having a seriously ill child.
The walk will be undertaken by Roses from Arizona, Wexford, Boston New England, Toronto and Carlow and they will be joined by Escorts from Mayo, Limerick, Kilkenny and the USA and co-founder of Cliona’s Foundation, Terry Ring.
The route is 120kms, beginning in the Portuguese city of Valenca and finishing in the Spanish city at the Cathedral in Santiago De Compostela.
Cliona’s Foundation expects a record number of families will apply for financial assistance this year and will need to raise a minimum of €700,000 to meet these applications. To support the Roses and Rose Escorts, please visit this link: https://www.idonate.ie/fundraiser/CaminoForClionasROTIF.
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