Barretstown children’s charity today launched its national Christmas appeal in Applegreen and Dealz stores to raise vital funds this festive season.
As part of the appeal, Barretstown has once again teamed up with Flahavan’s to produce ‘Magic Reindeer Food,’ now available for €2 in Applegreen and Dealz stores nationwide.
In an effort to ‘Sprinkle Some Magic’ for children affected by cancer and other serious illnesses, 100% of proceeds of each packet sold will go to the charity.
Barretstown Camps
Barretstown Ambassador and world-renowned mentalist Keith Barry was joined by Barretstown camper sisters Clodagh (9) and Aoife (11) Keyes, as well as brothers Eoin (11), Cathail (7), John (5) and Patrick (5) Holohan to officially launch the appeal.
Cathail at just age four endured over three years of chemotherapy to treat leukaemia, and Clodagh was only ten months old when doctors diagnosed her with a tumour.
Both Cathail and Clodagh have spent time with their families at Barretstown camps, where they received 24/7 medical care, as well as therapeutic programmes while they enjoyed being children in the camp setting.
Barretstown is the largest and most established provider in Ireland of therapeutic camps and programmes, which provides for the unmet psychosocial needs of children and teenagers impacted by serious illness.
Celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, the charity has served over 125,000 campers to date, and now aims to support over 250,000 by the end of the decade.
All services provided to children and families at Barretstown are free of charge, with just 4% of the charity’s funding provided by the government and the rest supported by fundraising, corporate supporters, and individuals as well as community groups.
‘Make A Real Difference’
Commenting at the launch, Keith Barry said, “Barretstown is a truly magical place that has been bringing joy and hope to children for 30 years.
“It’s an honour to support such an incredible charity, dedicated to transforming the lives of children affected by cancer and other serious illnesses.
“The real magic lies in seeing the smiles, laughter and wonder on the campers’ faces as they rediscover the joy of simply being children.
“So, this Christmas, I ask people to make a real difference in the life of a seriously ill child and pick up some magical reindeer food.”
Dee Ahearn, CEO of Barretstown, added, “At Barretstown, our mission is to rebuild the lives of children and families who have been affected by cancer and other serious illnesses, and we have proudly served over 125,000 campers in the last 30 years.
“The ‘Sprinkle Some Magic’ campaign is a vital part in this, in allowing us to raise funds and further develop our services.
“We want to say a huge thank you to Flahavan’s, Applegreen and Dealz, our fantastic partners for the Magical Reindeer Food and their continued generosity and commitment to supporting Barretstown and enabling us to serve as campers, year on year.
“Together, we can bring some magic back into Christmas for families who are experiencing the stark reality of childhood cancer and other serious illnesses.
“Please support Barretstown and pop into your local Applegreen or Dealz store to help sprinkle the magic this Christmas.”
To learn more about the ‘Sprinkle Some Magic’ campaign, visit www.barretstown.org/christmas
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