A LIMERICK man has founded Ireland’s only charity organisation to grant once in a lifetime wishes to both adults and children.
Kevin Clancy set up Clare’s Wish Foundation in memory of his late sister, Clare, who died aged just 24 from Spina Bifida. The charity also honours Kevin’s father Sean, who passed away in 2011 with pancreatitis. The charity will be officially launched in Thomond Park on Saturday, October 12.
Kevin explains: “Thomond Park have kindly donated the room free of charge for the night as have the bands that are playing. We have Lilianna Inch, a singer from Cork; Limerick singer, Emma Kate Langford; magician Leon Anderson and the headline act is the band Accoustra.
“The tickets have been printed and we hope to have them on sale this week. They’ll cost €20 for adults and €10 for students and there may be tickets available on the night.”
Kevin was inspired to set up a wish-granting charity by a heart-warming story involving his sister Clare. She was a huge fan of singer Red Hurley and, at one of his concerts, he spent many hours talking to and singing for Clare, as well as signing an album with the autograph “To my darling Clare. With all my love. Thank you for your thoughts and everything..with love. Red Hurley.”
Clare’s Wish Foundation recently granted its first wish for a young woman with a life-threatening condition. Kevin said: “We recently worked with a family who have a 24-year-old daughter with cancer. Her wish was to marry on August 7 and Clare’s Wish Foundation donated the wedding car, photographer and also the church music. It was a wish come true for all the family.
“I have done extensive research and I am all but certain that ours is the only charity in Ireland that grants wishes to adults with a life-threatening condition. If we only gave wishes to children, we would not have been able to grant that lady her wish.”
Kevin has devoted a significant portion of his life to helping others. In addition to his work with Clare’s Wish Foundation, he is a volunteer with St John’s Ambulance Service and local children’s charity, Share A Dream.
