University of Limerick students raise €16K during Charity Week 2019

UNIVERSITY of Limerick students raised €16,000 during Charity Week 2019, which has been donated to four local charities.

Limerick Suicide Watch, Clare’s Wish Foundation, Rape Crisis Mid-West and the Peter McVerry Trust each received €4,000 raised by UL students during the biggest social week of the UL academic calendar. 

“(This is one of the highlights of our term in office, where we get the opportunity to give back to the Limerick and wider community by handing over the money raised by UL students to our four very deserving charities,” said UL Student Life president Ciara Jo Hanlon. 

“The weather this year was remarkable, it created such a wonderful atmosphere here on campus and it made such a difference to our efforts to get a full week unlike the year previous,” she added. 

With just over 40 student volunteers and the UL Student Life staff team, the 2019 UL Student Life charity week comprised of a variety of fundraising events including chocolate egg eating competitions, shave or die and leg waxing. 

UL Student Life welfare officer Lorcan O’Donnell said: “This year we worked on bringing the values and focus back to what Charity Week is all about. Our four nominated charities all do incredible work in their respective fields and we are so glad that we can pay tribute to them and thank them for their contribution to the region.” 

As well as the €16,000 raised by students, UL president Des Fitzgerald donated an additional €1,000 from UL to a charity of the students' choice. Following a poll, students decided the additional funds should go to Limerick Suicide Watch. 

Pieta House and Limerick Marine Search and Rescue have been chosen as the UL charity partners for 2019/2020.