At Jack and Jill, we’re always amazed by the way the families under our care support us right back through fundraising, building awareness of our service and introducing us to new partners.
Here’s a tribute written by Carmel Doyle in acknowledgement of the incredible support from the Farrells, which featured recently in the Connacht Tribune.
Tribute to the Farrell family from Claregalway
I would like to pay tribute to Jonny and Alyson Farrell from Claregalway, pictured here with their new baby daughter Ériu, who are champion fundraisers for the Jack and Jill Children’s Foundation.
This very special Galway family were supported by Jack and Jill nurses to care for their two wonderful little boys Cillian and Odhrán, who sadly passed away in August 2010 and February 2022 respectively. They are one of the 197 Galway families supported by the charity since 1997, who continue to support us right back, in so many ways with courage, care and commitment in spades.
Their beautiful boys Cillian and Odhrán were both born with a serious genetic condition known as Trisomy 9p and Monosomy10q, named after the genes affected. Both were non-verbal and both ‘full of devilment’ according to their loving Dad. Their favourite Teddy Bears were in the support car, leading the recent Bed Push for Jack and Jill that was spearheaded by neighbours Annette and Colin Clarke. These local community connections are so important and so strong.
It was the Clarke Family that asked us to use the occasion of the Bed Push cheque presentation of €23,638 to remind everyone of the whopping €32,315 that Jonny and Alyson had raised previously in 2020/21 through the Woodland Winter Wonderland. The couple are pictured here with their new baby daughter Ériu who is doted on by her big sister Isla Mae, also in separate photo.
At the heart of our Jack and Jill community are caring parents like Jonny and Alyson who understand the difference that the Jack and Jill home nursing care model makes.
These parents become ambassadors for the charity. It never ceases to amaze me how the resilience of parents like these who’ve experienced our service in the past, use their indomitable spirit to raise funds to help other local families get the help they need to keep going too, while always remembering the little boys whose legacy lives on.
Thank you Jonny, Alyson, Isla Mae and Ériu and we will never forget Cillian and Odhrán whose short lives continue to inspire so much positive community spirit and joy.
Carmel Doyle, CEO, Jack and Jill Children’s Foundation
