Clionas Foundation 10th Annual Celebratory Night – Richard Lynch pictured with Brendan Ring, Founder Cliona’s Foundation, RTE’s Miriam O Callaghan, Keith Duffy, Terry Ring, Founder Cliona’s Foundation and Leanne Moore. Picture: Dolf Patijn/ilovelimerick

Clionas Foundation 10th Annual Celebratory Night

Richard pictured in 2011 at the making the I Love Limerick documentary about Cliona’s Foundation with Clionas parents Terry and Brendan Ring and interviewer Sami Long.

One of the main charities that I have been supporting for over 6 years is Cliona’s Foundation and it is a cause very close to my heart. Some of my proudest moments have happened in my work with this charity and it’s an amazing feeling to see all the hard work come to fruition and actually have results! 

Cliona’s Foundation is a charitable organisation that was founded in 2007 by Terry and Brendan Ring following the death of their daughter Cliona, who died from an inoperable brain tumour. Its aim is to provide financial assistance to families from Ireland who has children undergoing long-term medical treatment for critical illness for non-medical expenses. 

Clionas Foundation 10th Annual Celebratory Night

At last year’s Annual Celebratory Night, Clionas Foundation celebrated raising one million euro – Richard with Tom Tierney, Chairperson Clionas Foundation, Keith and Lisa Duffy, Keith Duffy Foundation, Terry and Brendan Ring, Cliona’s Foundation. Picture: Dolf Patijn/ilovelimerick

I first met Brendan and Terry over 6 years ago when I Love Limerick visited them at their home to do an interview. Limerick lady Sami Long who was Miss United Nation Europe 2010 at the time came, did the interview with Brendan and Terry. From the moment I met them and heard their story I was so deeply moved and knew I had to help. Everything I do in aid of the charity is in Cliona’s memory and it is a huge honour for me to be involved in her legacy. 

Funds raised are not to be used to pay for the child’s actual medical care; rather, donations are made to families for other ‘hidden’ costs, including hotels, restaurants, petrol and other miscellaneous expenses gained by having to travel to hospitals to receive treatment. 

Clionas Foundation 10th Annual Celebratory Night

Terry and Brendan’s beautiful daughter Cliona who passed away in 2007.

There are currently over one hundred children’s charities operating in Ireland but Cliona’s Foundation is unique in that it focuses completely on non-medical assistance for families who have exhausted all other avenues of assistance. No other national charity in Ireland offers financial support for non-medical costs associated with the illness. 

The goal of Cliona’s Foundation is to help families in remaining intact and functional during their crisis and to ensure that the family, friends and neighbours affected by critical or terminal childhood illness are helped and supported and no needs are left unmet for as long as needed. 

Cliona’s Foundation takes part in numerous events and fundraisers in order to reach the funds they need to help families such as the Cliona’s Foundation Annual Cycle, the Adare to Survive event and the Cliona’s Foundation Annual Celebratory Night. Cliona’s Foundation started off 2015 by breaking the Marathon Relay Record and has entered the Guinness World Record books. 

Clionas Foundation 10th Annual Celebratory Night

At the Cliona’s Foundation Annual Cycle launch in 2012 – David Wallace, Terry Ring, Leanne Moore, Brendan Ring and Joy Neville. Picture: Dolf Patijn/ilovelimerick

To date the charity has supported almost 400 families in 28 Counties across the country, raising over One Million Euro! 

The Cliona’s Foundation 10th Annual Celebratory Night was held at Bulgaden Castle, Co. Limerick. It was a fantastic night of fun, food and entertainment with a host of great guests and super prizes on offer. The charity has supported 382 families in 28 counties across the country and wanted to Remember, Acknowledge and Celebrate, those that have helped them over the past 9 years. 

Clionas Foundation 10th Annual Celebratory Night

Richard pictured with Mark Power of the JP Mc Manus Pro Am Committee, the Secret Millionaire Richard Mulcahy and Terry & Brendan Ring of the Cliona Foundation who were presented with a check for €20,000 in 2013 from the JP McManus Pro Am Committee. Picture: Carlos Dasco/ilovelimerick

Many of the previous events special guests returned for this night with Keith Duffy, Miriam O Callaghan, Leanne Moore, Sami Long, Richard Mulcahy and John “The Bull” Hayes all in attendance. It was a very special night and one that will go down in history for the charity. Congrats to all involved. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To find out more about Cliona’s Foundation, click here.

To read about other charity events in Limerick, click here.

 

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The Sparkle & Shine Easter Ball 2016 in association with the Keith Duffy Foundation will take place on Easter Bank Holiday weekend, Saturday, March 26th, at the Limerick Strand Hotel.

Miriam O Callaghan, one of RTE’s most loved and respected presenters will co- present the evening along with former Boyzone star, actor and philanthropist Keith Duffy. Entertainment for the star-studded event will be provided by world-class performer Cole Page and his band. An exclusive live auction will be the highlight for many, along with an extensive raffle supported by local businesses.

This year the Sparkle and Shine initiative and the Keith Duffy Foundation, founded by Keith Duffy, have decided to join forces to raise funds for their respective chosen charities and to give the Midwest region a night that is set to become one of the most high profile events of the year.

The Keith Duffy Foundation has chosen Cliona’s Foundation to be their chosen charity for its inaugural event in Limerick. The aim of Cliona’s Foundation is to give financial support to families of children with life limiting illnesses, to help them pay for the vast amount of non-medical costs associated with caring for a seriously ill child, “I’m delighted to help raise funds for Cliona’s Foundation for the work they do, it is something that’s close to my heart as I have seen the financial burden on families caring for a critically ill child and as part of my work with the Keith Duffy Foundation which aims to provide support and financial assistance to a number of chosen children’s charities throughout the country. I am also thrilled that Miriam O Callaghan, a much respected broadcaster and the official patron of my chosen charity Cliona’s Foundation, is coming to show her support on the night.” 

Miriam O Callaghan, one of RTE’s most loved and respected faces will be Master of Ceremonies for the glamorous event. Miriam has become a household name in Ireland following her success on RTE’s Primetime and Saturday Night with Miriam.

There will be a live fundraiser auction compered by none other than Keith Duffy himself with some seriously fabulous treats up for grabs. World-renowned singer Cole Page will provide entertainment for the evening. Cole has performed for dignitaries from the worlds of politics, music and sport including Bill Clinton, Sir Alex Ferguson and Robbie Williams. There will be Easter favours at each seat, spot prizes, table prizes and gift bags and a raffle with a guaranteed prize of a minimum value of €100 at each table with plenty more opportunities to win prizes throughout the night.

The Sparkle and Shine Easter Ball in association with the Keith Duffy Foundation will take place on the Easter Bank Holiday weekend, Saturday, March 26th at the Limerick Strand Hotel.  Tickets cost €100 or €1000 for a table. Check out the Sparkle & Shine Facebook page here

Take a look at the Keith Duffy Foundation site here

Check out the Keith Duffy Foundation Facebook here

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Clionas Foundation celebrate

 

To celebrate their 9 year anniversary, Cliona’s Foundation Annual Celebratory Night 2016 took place in Bulgaden Castle last Saturday evening. The evening of celebrations kicked off at 9pm and featured a VIP appearance from singer, actor and philanthropist Keith Duffy on behalf of his charity the Keith Duffy Foundation.

Prior to the event Keith made a captivating statement of why he got involved with Cliona’s Foundation, “I’m delighted to be part of the celebrations and to help the Foundation with the work they do, it is something that’s close to my heart as I have seen the financial burden on families caring for a critically ill child and as part of my work with the Keith Duffy Foundation which aims to provide support and financial assistance to a number of chosen children’s charities throughout the country.”

Keith and his wife Lisa arrived at Bulgaden castle at 9pm having travelled down from Dublin specifically for the event. It was a heart filled moment when Brendan and Terry Ring, the founders of Cliona’s Foundation met Keith, as it was the first time they had met in person. The night kicked off in celebration as Keith announced that Cliona’s Foundation has risen €1,000,000 to date which is now providing funding for over 300 families.

Brendan expressed his gratitude for Keith, referring to Keith as “an inspirational man” that has profoundly helped the foundation getting to an astonishing goal of one million euro. The celebrations didn’t stop there as Keith did a Q&A in front of the crowd of more than 300 people.

Keith made an inspirational speech as he quoted “united we stand, divided we fall” when referring to working with Brendan and Terry. Cliona Ring was never far from the hearts of her parents, Brendan and Terry, as they specifically picked the month of January to celebrate the annual event as Cliona’s birthday is at the beginning of the month.

Clionas Foundation celebrate raising one million euro with Keith Duffy

Keith Duffy and Cliona Ring meeting for the first time many years ago.

Richard Lynch of I Love Limerick introduced Keith to Brendan and Terry and he never realised he had met Cliona when she was a little girl. Last week Brendan and Terry sent him old photos they found of Cliona meeting Boyzone when she was a little girl. Keith felt that Cliona brought him and the Foundation together and he told the crowd that Cliona and his good friend Stephen Gately were now “watching over them like two angels from heaven.”

Brendan referred to the continued struggles of parents with ill children, “we realize from our own experience the expense of travelling into a hospital on a continual basis, it’s paying for the simple things like a newspaper or lunch.” Having raised one million euro Cliona’s foundation will continue to help families pay for these expenses in the coming year!   See www.clionasfoundation.ie or www.keithduffyfoundation.ie for more info.

 Feature Image, Photo Credit – I Love Limerick, Dolf Patijn
For further information about Clionas Foundation you can, click here
      You can follow Clionas foundation on twitter and facebook
              You can also check out the Keith Duffy Foundation website, here
You can follow Keith on Twitter
For more related articles by I Love Limerick, click here 

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