Rose of Tralee to trek the Camino for Cliona's

THE ROSE of Tralee contestants are used to taking to the stage in their finest ball gowns but this month they will take on a challenge that will see them dust off their hiking boots. 

The Rose of Tralee International Festival have announced a partnership with Cliona’s Foundation that will see a cohort of Roses and Rose Escorts walking the Camino De Santiago to raise funds and awareness.

Rose of Tralee Róisín Wiley will be leading the charge with all funds raised will go directly to providing financial support to the families that Cliona’s support. 

Cliona’s is a national charity providing financial assistance directly to parents of seriously sick children with life-limiting or chronic complex care needs across Ireland to help with the non-medical expenses related to caring for their child. 

The foundation was set up by Brendan and Terry Ring, following the death of their daughter Cliona, from an inoperable brain tumour in 2006 aged 15.

Over the years, as Cliona underwent numerous different hospital treatments, Brendan and Terry were struck by the number of families, facing enormous financial hardship, on the brink of financial free-fall, blindsided by non-medical expenses piling up.

They saw at first-hand the enormous toll it took on these families, already struggling to cope with the nightmare of having a seriously ill child. 

Joining the Roses from Arizona, Wexford, Boston New England, Toronto, Carlow will be Escorts from Mayo, Limerick, Kilkenny and the USA and co-founder of Cliona’s Foundation, Terry Ring.

The route the Roses and Rose Escorts will walk is 120kms, beginning in the Portuguese city of Valenca and finishing in the Spanish city at the Cathedral in Santiago De Compostela.   

At the launch of the walk, Rose of Tralee Róisín Wiley was delighted to meet the Howards, one of the families that Cliona's has assisted. 

Their two year old son Seán was recently diagnosed with a progressive genetic condition which means he needs a lot of care.  

Commenting on the visit, Róisín said: “I am very proud to be an ambassador for Cliona’s and to support such a worthy cause.

"The Howards are such a wonderful family, Sean is a bright and loving boy. It was a real privilege to spend time with them and to learn about the love and care they give to Sean and his brother Dan. I am so excited to be walking the Camino to raise much needed funds for Cliona’s Foundation to help families throughout the country”.

To support the Roses and Rose Escorts, please visit this link:  https://www.idonate.ie/ fundraiser/ CaminoForClionasROTIF