All Star brothers join Clionas Foundation Christmas Campaign ‘Give a Gift that REALLY matters’

Clionas Foundation Christmas Campaign launch pictured above – Fresh from the All Stars, Limerick hurling brothers Tom and Dan Morrisey joined CEO of Cliona’s Foundation Brendan Ring and Frankly My Dear songstress Helen O Dwyer to launch their ‘Give a Gift that REALLY matters’ Christmas Campaign. Picture Keith Wiseman

Clionas Foundation Christmas Campaign includes a Christmas EP recorded by singer Helen O Dwyer

Fresh from the All Stars, Limerick Hurling brothers Tom and Dan Morrisey joined CEO of Cliona’s Foundation Brendan Ring to launch Clionas Foundation Christmas Campaign ‘Give a Gift that REALLY matters’, which aims to raise funds for families who are caring for a seriously sick child this Christmas season. Cliona’s have seen a record increase in applications overall this year up on 60% on last year and have distributed the largest amount since the organisation was founded in 2008. It is estimated that there are 4000 families caring for a child with a serious and/or life limiting illness in Ireland right now.       

In response to the growing crisis that families with sick children find themselves in, Cliona’s are aiming to raise €50,000 through ‘Give a Gift that REALLY matters’ campaign this year.

Cliona’s are asking people to go online and donate to help this Christmas, or download their Christmas EP which is now available for €5.99 on clionas.ie. The EP was recorded by, Helen O Dwyer, singer and star of Frankly My Dear, featuring Christmas Classics from all-time favourites Frank Sinatra, Michael Bublé and Dean Martin.

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Helen was also on-hand with Tom and Dan Morrisey to help raise awareness of the difficulties facing families with seriously sick children this Christmas. Tom who is Limerick Senior Hurling team’s five time All-Ireland winning left hand forward is on his third All Star while his brother Dan, Limerick’s formidable left wing back has also just received his third All-Star. 

Speaking about the importance of family, the brothers said they were delighted to be able to support Cliona’s campaign. Speaking at the launch Tom 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 Helen’s Christmas EP. You can make really give something that truly matters.”      

Cliona’s Co-Founder and CEO Brendan Ring addressed the seriousness of the issue facing families here in Ireland which he says really needs to be urgently discussed nationwide saying, “We are incredibly grateful to everyone who have supported Cliona’s in 2023 and to all who donated, helped, gave their time. This is a very special and ambitious campaign which will help make a huge difference to families who desperately need financial support while caring for their seriously ill child. 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. We are all really grateful to Tom and Dan and Helen for being here today to lend their support.”

2023 also marks 16 years of working on behalf of the “forgotten families” of Ireland whose daily struggles are at the heart of the endeavors of Cliona’s Foundation. So many of us are parents, we have all had to take care of a sick child at some stage in our lives. 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.  

Cliona’s Foundation is a unique national organisation providing financial support for these families specifically for the non-medical costs associated with caring. The foundation was set up by Brendan and Terry Ring following the death of their daughter Cliona from an inoperable brain tumour in 2006, aged 15. Cliona’s have provided financial support to over 1,300 families across the island of Ireland and believe that no family should suffer financial distress while caring for a seriously ill child. 

Cliona’s Foundation expects a record number of families will have applied for financial assistance this year and will need to raise at least 500,000 to meet these applications.  

Cliona’s “Give a Gift that Really Matters” Christmas Campaign has launched officially on Clionas.ie  To support families in crisis this Christmas, learn more about Clionas and to see how you can help please visit clionas.ie.

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