Jack & Jill makes SOS appeal for donations

In a matter of weeks, fundraising at the Jack & Jill Children’s Foundation has been devastated by Covid-19, closing the Foundation’s nine charity shops and cancelling most of its fundraising events, writes Trish Whelan.

The financial outlook is bleak, with Jack & Jill now facing a massive shortfall of €500,000 while the 340 children and families under its care continue to rely on the support of the charity now more than ever.

The children Jack & Jill looks after are very vulnerable; children from birth to five years of age with highly complex and life-threatening medical conditions being cared for at home. Children like Leo Johnston whose mum Joan says that within two or three days of being referred, our liaison nurse was in our home listening to us and telling us ‘We can help you. They have been the most supportive group of people. They have been lifesavers’.

Throughout this crisis, Jack & Jill’s specialist home nursing and end-of-life care continues, with many families still in receipt of home visits from their regular nurse or carer. For the remainder, who have been self-isolating for some time, the nursing team provides phone and video support to help parent carers keep their sick child safe and well cared for at home, where they belong.

With the help of Jack & Jill founder Jonathan Irwin, who himself is cocooning at home, the charity is urging the public to donate €4 by texting the words ‘We Care’ to 50300 or to give what they can through www.jackandjill.ie. Every €16 donated provides a family with 1 hour of home nursing support from the Jack & Jill team.

Commenting on the crisis, Jonathan Irwin said: “All of a sudden the rug has been pulled from underneath our fundraising feet, with everything cancelled because of Covid-19. One thing we’re not short of a Jack & Jill is resilience, spurred on by the families we support and their surrounding community. We need support from the community and we believe we will get it because people understand the lifeline that is Jack & Jill and our reach across the country. I would appeal to everyone who can to dig deep and help us out at this challenging time. Our service must and will prevail. Thank you.”

WECARE to 50300 text costs €4. Jack & Jill will receive a minimum of €3.60. 

Note: The Jack & Jill Foundation was set up in 1997 by Jonathan Irwin and his wife, Mary Ann O’Brien (founder of Lily O’Brien’s Chocolates) based on their own experience caring for their son Jack at home until he passed away in December of 1997 aged 22 months. 

Calling owners of vintage & classic cars

Cork’s biggest car show will take place this weekend with proceeds going to charity, writes Trish Whelan.

The Cork International Hotel is to host the Cork Car Show and organisers want to make this the biggest and best car show yet.

They are calling on owners of vintage cars, classic cars, a Harley or Goldwing to get in touch and attend the show on this coming Sunday 7 April.

The annual event is now in its third year and is held in aid of Cork charity, the Rainbow Club. This is a support service for children who have autism or who are on the autism spectrum. The event will feature American cars and bikes in addition to some very special vintage cars.

General Manager of the Cork International Hotel, Carmel Lonergan, said: “We are doing a special call-out for owners of vintage and classic cars to get in touch as we would love to see you and your car on the day.”

The Rainbow Club Cork Centre for Autism is the hotel’s charity partner for 2019. The Rainbow Club is hoping to raise €2 million to fund a new facility in Little Island. 

In addition to fundraising efforts, the hotel plans to work towards making its environment for guests with autism more inclusive by tailoring its facilities. It is also providing its team with awareness training. The hotel will now be working with the Rainbow Club to determine the additions and changes at the hotel.

Anyone that would like to register to take part in the car show can email Sandra Murphy on smurphy@trigonhotels.com. Entry is €5 for adults and free for kids and all proceeds from the day will go to the Rainbow Club. The event is on from11am to 5.30pm next Sunday. 

The Cork International Hotel is situated directly opposite Cork Airport - a 10 minute drive from Cork City. 

Dr Who's own Corsa up for auction

Actor Matt Smith, better known as Dr Who, has decided to sell his very own time-machine, a silver Vauxhall Corsa he has owned since he was 18. Dr Who's other means of transport is the Tardis in which he travels the universe!

The car's features include a wing mirror held on with gaffer tae and one or two strategically placed bumps and scratches which add to the car's authenticity as The Time Lord's favoured mode of transport.

The car is affectionately called The Shed by many of Matt's friends. Profits will go to Starlight, a charity that brightens the lives of seriously and terminally ill children (in the UK).

If you want to bid for Matt's Corsa go to http://ebay.co.uk and look it up. You can watch a clip of Matt talking about his car to Jeremy Clarkson on Top Gear at http://www.starlight.org.uk/latest-news/dr-who-matt-smiths-car-goes-up-for-auction-for-starlight/

First Stop/Fast Fit and Team Hope Christmas Shoebox Appeal

Corporate support for the 2012 Team Hope Christmas Shoebox Appeal is being strongly supported by First Stop/Fast Fit which is using its 61 outlets nationwide as collection points.

Shoeboxes filled for the Appeal can be left at any of the First Stop/Fast Fit locations by individuals, schools, businesses or community groups. Team Hope is aiming to deliver 195,000 shoeboxes from the island of Ireland into the hands of needy children in Africa, the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, whose families typically live on less than €1 per day. For many, it is the only Christmas present they will receive.

The Shoebox Appeal was officially launched by the Khulula Swaziland Children's Choir, a 20-strong group of African orphans aged between7 to 18 years old, who have themselves all benefitted from the Appeal in the past.

Pictured at the launch of the Appeal are: Niall Barry, Team Hope Executive Director; Derek Browne Fast Fit Area Manager, and Carol Hennessy, Team Hope National Manager of the Christmas Shoebox Appeal with two members of the Khulula Swaziland Children's Choir.

Companies and organisations who wish to organise shoeboxes for the Appeal should visit www.teamhope.ie or ring 01 294 0222. You can follow Team Hope on Facebook www.facebook.com/team.hope.ireland and Twitter@TeamHopeIreland. The closing date for receipt of Shoeboxes at First Stop/Fast Fit outlets is 12th November.

First Stop and Fast Fit combined is the largest network of tyre and car service centres in Ireland with over 60 depots nationwide. You can find your nearest Fast Fit at www.fastfit.ie or First Stop at www.firststop.ie

'Hazzard' stunt man in Trim next weekend

A member of the team behind the famous car stunts in the film The Dukes of Hazzard is coming to the Vintage and Veteran Car Rally in Trim, which is being held next weekend, writes Tony Conlon.

It's the 26th year of the show, which raises funds for charity.

Tom Sarmento is pictured above with Deputy Ray Butler, Seamus Quinn (Chairman of Trim V&V) and Nicky Fagan owner of the replica 1969 Dodge Charger which  was one of the show's highlights. Tom worked in Universal Studios as a mechanic and stunt driver/organiser for such well-known TV shows as Quincy, BJ and the Bear and The Rockford Files. He joined Warner Brothers in 1979 and from then until 1985 he was lead mechanic for The Dukes of Hazzard. It was his job to keep the General Lee car running for all those spectacular car stunts.

It was hard on the cars. “We went through 317 General Lee cars and over 1,000 Roscoe Sheriff and bad guy cars in The Dukes of Hazzard,” says Tom, now the producer and creator of the Hazzard County Stunt Team and has organised the stunts for Dukes of Hazzard stuntmen reunions throughout the United States.

For this year’s Trim Vintage and Veteran Rally, all the old vehicles are being allowed to participate for free. The show takes place on Sunday 17 July at the Porch Fields (off the ring road).

The attractions on this family day include helicopter rides, auto jumble, fun fare, dog show, RSA road safety show, and new car displays from many brands that sell in Ireland.

There will also be live music, plenty of prizes and much more.

Hooky in the pink for cancer charities

A Fiat 500 1.2 Pop donated by Fiat Ireland raised €30,000 in raffle ticket sales at the recent 'Ireland Stand Up to Cancer' gala charity ball in Dublin.

Sally Anne Sherry from Ballsbridge, Dublin, won the car at the event, held in the new Conference Centre.

Celebrity attendees included Louis Walsh; Norma Smurfit; Aprés Match’s Barry Murphy and his TV presenter wife Flo McSweeney; restauranteurs Sally Anne and Derry Clarke and Newstalk’s George Hook, pictured above alongside an appropriately pink Fiat 500 show car.

Around €250,000 was raised on the night, with proceeds going to the All Ireland Cooperative Oncology Research Group, Friends of St Luke’s Hospital, The Children’s Cancer Fund, Our Lady’s Hospital Crumlin, and The Marie Keating Foundation.