A LIMERICK-based charity, run by a couple who lost their daughter to a brain tumour, has enlisted All-Ireland winning Limerick hurling brothers Tom and Dan Morrissey to help raise funds for families with life-limiting or chronic complex care needs this Christmas.
The Cliona’s Foundation charity said it has received a record increase in funding applications this Christmas from desperate families who are caring for a seriously ill child to cover their child’s non-medical expenses.
The foundation, which has helped 1,300 families across Ireland, was set up by husband and wife Brendan and Terry Ring, from Bruff, following the death of their 15-year-old daughter Cliona from an inoperable brain tumour in 2006.
“We have seen a record increase in applications overall this year, up on 60 per cent on last year, and have distributed the largest amount since the organisation was founded in 2008. It is estimated that there are 4,000 families caring for a child with a serious and/or life limiting illness in Ireland right now,” explained Brendan Ring.
In response to this “growing crisis”, the charity selected Limerick hurling heroes Dan and Tom Morrissey to launch its ‘Give a Gift that Really Matters’ Christmas campaign, which aims to raise €50,000 through the sale of a specially recorded album of classic Christmas songs, performed by Limerick singer Helen O’Dwyer, via the charity’s website Clionas.ie.
Speaking at the launch on Monday, Tom Morissey, who spoke of the importance that family plays in his and his brother’s life, said: “Dan and I are very happy to be here to support the fantastic work that Cliona’s are doing, we know that family means everything and can only imagine what some families are going through this Christmas as they do their best to care for their sick child.”
“We are encouraging everyone to donate what you can, it all adds up, or go to Cliona’s website and download the Christmas EP, you can make really give something that truly matters.”
Mr Ring said the charity reached its largest amount distributed to families, for the second year in a row, and offered that the financial crisis impacting families with children with life limiting and complex needs should be a priority for government.
He thanked donors who supported the charity in 2023, but said “it has never been more important to raise the awareness for the forgotten families Cliona’s work with”.
“More families with seriously sick children or children with a life-limiting illness are coming to us for help. It has been a record year again for applications for financial assistance,” added Mr Ring.
“So many of us are parents, we have all had to take care of a sick child at some stage in our lives, and for most of us our precious child bounces back and all is well again, but for approximately 4,000 families in Ireland this is not the case, they face an arduous, daily struggle with long term, life-limiting illness.”
Over the years, as Cliona Ring underwent numerous different hospital treatments, Brendan and Terry were struck by the number of families blindsided by non-medical expenses piling up.
After seeing the enormous toll this takes on families, who are already struggling to cope with the nightmare of having a seriously ill child, they decided to take action and set up Cliona’s Foundation, in honour of their daughter, which uniquely provides financial assistance to applicants.
Since its launch, Cliona’s Foundation has raised in excess of €4million and has supported over 1,300 families across 31 the country, to help with rent, food, utility bills, transportation for chemotherapy or alternative therapies, treats for siblings, and also covering the cost of a child’s funeral.
