Huge total raised for cancer charities by late Limerick woman's initiative

A PHENOMENAL €150,000 has been raised in the Fight the Big C event inspired and spearheaded by the late Mary Cregan.

But Mary’s generosity, thoughtfulness and capacity to think about others were remembered with deep emotion last night when the full extent of her fundraising legacy was revealed. 

“We are extremely proud of how this event has turned out. We are extremely proud as a family of what has been achieved in Mary’s name,” her father, former TD and GAA County Board chairman, John Cregan said, following an evening in which seven organisations received bumper cheques. 

And he thanked all those who had helped in any way to make it possible: those who sold and bought tickets; those who donated either directly or through fund-me, those who donated to the auction or sponsored raffle prizes and all those who helped on the night of March 15. 

 Mary, a nurse who was described at her funeral on March 18 as a woman of joy, was diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2016 at the age of 30 and had a period of remission but the tumour returned last year and she died, at home, on March 14.  

But in the months before her death, Mary had spearheaded the  fundraiser as a “way to give back”. 

Tragically however, she did not live to host the event in the Devon Inn Hotel as she had hoped and planned. But with typical generosity  her family requested that it go ahead.  And it proved, as the final figure shows, a phenomenal  success. 

Originally, Mary told the Limerick Leader last January,  her target was €600-700 for each of the organisations she nominated. But long before her death, and to her great joy, that target had been surpassed several times. 

The outpouring of solidarity and sympathy which followed her death ensured even that figure was further boosted. 

Last night presented to seven different organisations and groups,The four originally named organisations all received €23,000 each:  Brain Tumour Ireland; Brú Columbanus which provides accommodation for the families of patients at University Hospital Cork; ACT,the Aid Cancer Treatment organisation which works to improve quality of life for cancer patients and BHOC, the Bandon Hyperbaric Oxygen Centre which give patients large doses of oxygen to promote healing.

In addition, the Milford Care Centre and the Irish Cancer Society received cheques for €23,000 while and the Jasmine Unit, St Ita’s Hospital, Newcastle West received €12,000.