12 November 2015
By Tom Collins
tom@TheCork.ie
The Mercy Hospital Foundation is encouraging families to light up their homes this Christmas, share the spectacle with their communities, and shine a light on cancer services at the Mercy. This December, join the Muldowney family from Cobh and the Carey family from Youghal, who last Christmas raised a staggering €10,455 for The Mercy Cancer Appeal by inviting the public to make a donation and enjoy the light shows they put on over the holiday season.
From Saturday December 5th to New Year’s Eve, The Muldowney Christmas Light Show in Cobh will take place at 7.30pm every evening at 94 Norwood Park in Cobh.
This Christmas will see the return of their singing Christmas faces which were newly brought in last year and were a big hit with both adult and children, and are the only ones of their kind in Ireland. Old favourites like the Frozen medley are back too, as well as a handful of new songs, with free candy canes for all the children who go along. Decorated in memory of their beloved daughter and sister Aileen, the light show is free of charge, but people are invited to donate with all proceeds raised going to the Mercy Oncology Unit & Chaplaincy.
Speaking about the Christmas Lights Appeal, Aileen’s sister, Moya Muldowney said “The interest in our Christmas light show last year was tremendous and we were so appreciative of those families who came out and supported such a worthy cause through their generous donations – real people making a real difference. You never know when cancer may come to your door and you may need the care and support that is available at The Mercy Hospital. This year we have added another controller and two new light-sets, bringing us up to five controllers and 80 sets of lights used in the show. We’ll have the lights on static from 5pm to 10pm nightly, but it’s the show at 7.30pm which is the main attraction! Keep an eye on our facebook page, “Muldowney Christmas Light Show” for regular updates.”
Pat Carey’s Christmas Lights Show in Youghal kicks off on Saturday, December 12th and will run from 6pm – 9pm every night until Women’s Little Christmas on January 6th at 25 Blackwater Heights, Youghal. The opening night will see a musical performance from the Holy Family Choir, with festivities kicking off at 5pm. There will also be a raffle in aid of the Mercy Oncology Unit, and the lucky winner will have the honour of officially switching on the lights. Visitors to the Carey home in Youghal can expect lots of Christmas cheers, tasty treats and musical performances from the likes of Brú na Sí throughout the holiday season, supported by the local business community.
Organiser Pat Carey said “I was an oncology patient at The Mercy University Hospital and decided that lighting my house at Christmas was a way to give something back and thank the staff who gave me care that was second to none. I would encourage anyone who lights up their home at Christmas, and hasn’t done so for a charity before, to bear the Mercy in mind this December and consider the real difference their support could make to lives.”
The Mercy Cancer Appeal aims to raise €2.5 million by 2016 to fund key services and advancements in the treatment of and research into many cancers. For those people in Munster diagnosed with cancer, The Mercy will be at the forefront of diagnosis, research, treatment and care. With one in three people in Ireland expected to have cancer at some point in their lives, it is likely that we or someone close to us will have the experience of sitting in a consultation room, being given devastating news. The Mercy Hospital Foundation is building a specialised Cancer CARE Centre that will provide a quiet safe place for patients and families dealing with a cancer diagnosis to come to receive support on their cancer journey, and funds raised through the Christmas Lights Appeal will go towards the building of this.
Deirdre Finn, Community & Events Fundraiser, Mercy Hospital Foundation said “Do you have one of the best Christmas Light displays in Cork, on your house? If so, why not take a collection box in aid of the Mercy so people who see your lights can help raise funds for our Cancer Appeal?”
Deirdre continued “Our mission is to support the Hospital in delivering the highest quality of patient care by raising funds to support advancements and innovation in the treatment and care of patients at the Mercy Hospital, the People’s Hospital. We promise to do our very best to provide you with a world class hospital, right on your doorstep, and this is only possible through the help of our supporters and donors, like the Muldowneys and Careys, and the families all over Cork who join us for our Christmas Lights Appeal.”
If you would like to find out more about putting on or fundraising through a Christmas light display this December, please contact Deirdre Finn on (021) 4274076. Further information on The Mercy Cancer Appeal is available on www.mercyfundraising.ie.
