Kavanagh Group raise over €112k for Hospice. In just six months members of staff from Kavanagh’s Supervalu’s nine stores in Donegal, Mayo and Galway organised over 70 events to raise €112,500 for three cancer charities across the West and North West. ‘Help us to Help Others’ was developed by Kavanagh’s as part of their corporate social responsibility strategy.
SuperValu customers were also involved, with every swipe of their real rewards card, a donation was made by the company. The beneficiaries of the €112,500 are Donegal Hospice, Mayo Roscommon Hospice and Cancer Care West. Mayo Roscommon Hospice received an impressive €60,000 from the total figure. Speaking at the finale of the six month campaign, Carmel Rigney expressed her thanks at the work the hospice does. Carmel, who worked on the campaign as a member of staff of Kavanagh’s SuperValu in Clifden was diagnosed with cancer herself earlier this year. “Without the free service of Hospice, our lives would be much darker, our pain much greater. We offer you 112,500 thank you’s on behalf of me, my family and other service users across the West and North West,” said Ms Rigney.
Liam Campion, Manager, O’Connor’s Westport said the success of the campaign was mainly down to the staff and paid tribute to the staff of O’Connor’s SuperValu. The hugely supported ‘Help us to Help Others’ cycle held last month was deemed such a success that it is set to become an annual event.
Cynthia Clampett, CEO Mayo Roscommon Hospice described the contribution by Kavanagh’s SuperValu as ‘vital’, in order to retain current service levels. “The challenge for Hospice in Ireland is a financial one. Fundraising to reach our target of €1.3 million has become a mammoth task, even though the number of referrals to our home care teams has increased. “We have had 367 patients through our doors so far in 2012. Without Kavanagh’s SuperValu and other generous donors Hospice won’t be a free service into the future. That is the simple reality,” concluded Ms Clampett.
