Ballinrobe family hoping to raise funds for Daisy Lodge with ‘Climb for Fergal’
Pictured at the launch of ‘Climb for Fergal’ in aid of Cancer fund for Children at the site of the new Daisy Lodge facility in Cong are: Back: L-R: Siobhan Hanley, Director of Communications at Cancer Fund for Children; Vincent Loftus, Ewan Loftus, Ann Loftus, Ivor Loftus, Majella Loftus. Front: Rachel Fulham, Mary McHugh Murphy and Sinead O’Malley Fundraising team at Cancer Fund for Children.
A South Mayo family are hoping to raise funds for a local charity in memory of their son and brother.
‘Climb for Fergal’ will raise much needed funds for Cancer Fund for Children and Daisy Lodge in Cong and will see them climb the Reek in memory of Ballinrobe native, Fergal Loftus, whose fourth anniversary occurs on May 28th.
The Loftus family are inviting friends and acquaintances to join them on Saturday, May 25th next in a climb of Croagh Patrick and afterwards for refreshments, and music at Campbell’s pub in Murrisk, Westport. All this will take place from 12noon to 4pm.
The event is to raise vital funds for Cancer Fund for Children, an all-Ireland charity. Their mission is that no child on the island of Ireland should face a cancer diagnosis alone. The charity are currently in the process of building a new facility (Daisy Lodge) on the shores of Lough Corrib at Lisloughrey just outside the village of Cong in Mayo.
Fergal succumbed to cancer after a battle borne with dignity and courage. The family decided to organise this event having commenced climbing the Reek in May every year after his passing, given that this vital centre is being built close to their home in South Mayo and to try to help families cope with the devastating diagnosis which touches so many families.
Cancer Fund for children provide short breaks to families from the Republic of Ireland in Daisy Lodge, Newcastle, County Down. However, for every one family referred another six families must go in a waiting list as Daisy Lodge is running at full capacity.
It is now their vision to open a second therapeutic short break centre Daisy Lodge Cong and welcome families for breaks within two years. This will allow the charity to increase the number of children and parents they support from 1,800 to 4,000 each year.
The project in Cong is currently underway with groundworks ongoing. Building is due to commence this August or September and will take approx 18 months to complete.
Anyone who would like to get involved and organise an event in the build up to ‘Climb for Fergal’ can contact Mary McHugh Murphy, Connaught Regional Fundraiser for Cancer fund for children at: mary@cancerfundforchildren.ie
Tel 0879443277 or any member of the Loftus Family.
An iDonate page has been set up for donations at: https://www.idonate.ie/event/climbforfergal, or you can donate on the day.
