A cycling event to Electric Picnic is gearing up to be another fundraising success, writes RONAN McGREEVY
THE TOUR de Picnic, which coincides with the Electric Picnic, has been one of the most imaginative and successful fundraisers of recent years.
The 80km cycle from Tallaght Stadium to the Electric Picnic site in Stradbally, Co Laois, attracted 900 cyclists last year. Some 700 cyclists have already signed up for this year’s trip.
It is a “win-win” for all concerned. Those who raise over the target amount get a free ticket to the festival while the rest goes to nominated charities.
In the past three years it has raised €550,000 for the National Children’s Hospital, Temple Street. That money has gone to fund the purchase of a specialised neurosurgical microscope and specialist operating tables. Last year’s cycle raised money for a new heart machine and a new isolation unit at the hospital.
This year two children’s charities will be the recipients of the proceeds of the Tour de Picnic – the Thank You Crumlin, Love Mia charity and the LauraLynn Children’s Hospice Foundation which runs Ireland’s only children’s hospice.
Thank You Crumlin, Love Mia was set up by 12-year-old Chinese child Mia Keaveney who was badly burned on her body when she was a baby in China. At the age of 18 months, she came to Ireland with 13 other Chinese children to receive treatment in Ireland and has lived here since.
She and her parents set up the charity as a means of expressing thanks to Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin and has been receiving treatment there ever since.
She was burned very badly on her right-hand side and she lost the fingers of her right hand while her right leg and foot were also badly burned.
Unfortunately, attempts to save her foot last year proved unsuccessful and she will need a prosthesis.
Keaveney is a precocious fashion designer whose designs caught the eye of John Rocha.
She took up drawing fashion sketches when she had to endure a fixator, a cage-like structure on her right leg, to keep it in place. It severely restricted her movement.
Rocha was so taken with her designs that he helped her organise a fashion show showcasing her talents at the Convention Centre Dublin in May which attracted other well known designers. The night raised more than €20,000 for the hospital.
One of the surgeons on her team, Mr David Moore, and her own surgeon Paula Kelly are both keen cyclists and suggested that the Tour de Picnic could be used as a fundraiser.
Through Moore, the charity was introduced to Brian McDermott from 2Wheels who organises the cycle.
Keaveney is hoping to raise €200,000 to upgrade and expand the number of consultation rooms in the orthopaedic and ophthalmic clinics.
Those who feel up to the cycle can contact her father Clem who is putting together a team right up until the day of the cycle.
The other recipient is the LauraLynn Children’s Hospice Foundation.
The Sunshine House on the grounds of Leopardstown opened last September. It is Ireland’s only children’s hospice. The foundation is hoping to raise money to kit out a room for families who are staying with dying children. They hope to include massage, music, play and aromatherapy treatments for families and also children at a cost of €55,000.
They also want to upgrade and refurbish their children’s multi-sensory garden which will cost €25,000.
Jane McKenna set up the charity with her husband Brendan, following the tragic deaths of their daughters Lynn and Laura, from separate conditions in 1999 and 2001 respectively.
McKenna says she feels the charity is “lucky” to be involved in such a successful fundraiser and that radio presenter Ray D’Arcy and television celebrity Jennifer Maguire have done a lot to raise the profile of the charity.
Separately the foundation announced last week that it was partnering with the multinational giant PG to raise funds for a second children’s hospice. Currently many of the families of the eight current residents come from Cork or Kerry to be with their children.
PG will make an unspecified donation to fund and support the campaign with marketing support (including TV sponsorship and media relations) and nationwide retailer campaigns.
It will also work with LauraLynn to build awareness of the charity, assist in fundraising and help them to build a sustainable future for their work.
Those interested in doing the Tour de Picnic for Thank You Crumlin, Love Mia can contact Clem Keaveney on 085 7865256. The Tour de Picnic takes place on Friday from Tallaght Stadium.
