People were today urged to defy the Irish summer and eat al fresco in a fundraising effort for the Barretstown camp for seriously ill children.
The inaugural Avonmore Big Picnic for Barretstown campaign, launched in Dublin today, is encouraging people to organise picnics over summer to aid the Co Kildare charity.
Money raised will be used to send more families to Barretstown and provide equipment and resources to help run their 14 family camps there every year.
It is estimated €20 could contribute to the cost of recruiting and training camp volunteers, of which 700 are needed every year; €50 could buy a supply of face paints for the arts and crafts and drama programme; while €350 could help pay for a child to come to Barretstown for a day.
The website www.sendmorefamilies.com allows people to register for a free picnic pack, which contains tips and hints on how to host a picnic and provide entertainment. Donations can be made directly to Barretstown through the website.
Picnic planners can also phone 1850 930383 to request an information pack, and details will be on Avonmore milk cartons and at www.barretstown.org.
Avonmore's parent company, Glanbia, have pledged to raise €2 million for the children's charity between now and 2011, with €1m of this being sought through consumer donations.
Speaking today, Fin Breatnach, CEO of Barretstown, said “Having worked with children who have been diagnosed with cancer over the past 30 years I have witnessed many children regain their confidence, self-belief and self-esteem through the marvellous work carried out at Barretstown."
That sentiment was echoed by television presenter Craig Doyle, who unveiled the campaign in Dublin's Iveagh Gardens.
"I have seen the fantastic work that Barretstown does for the children that attend their family camps and know what an amazing cause this is. I would encourage everyone to get out their picnic blanket and raise as much money as possible for Barretstown,” he said.
Located in Co Kildare, the camp provides activities and fun for seriously ill children - with medical backing - to help them regain confidence and self-esteem. It was founded by the late actor and philanthropist Paul Newman in 1994.
