This article is from page 45 of the 2008-03-04 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 45 JPG
FOR the last six months, the people of Clare have been turning out in droves to support every possible kind of fundraiser to help send the volun- teers to South Africa on the Building of Hope Project.
There is, as yet no final figure for the amount raised through the hun- dreds of events which were arranged across the length and breath of the county and further afield.
While those travelling to Mission- vale for the project were required to raise €3,000 apiece to cover the costs of their travel and accommoda- tion, as well as a contribution to the cost of the building, most raised far in excess of that.
One volunteer raised almost €29,000 and many raised more than €10,000 as the generosity of the Clare spirit overflowed.
“It’s unbelievable the amount of money that came out of one county”, said one of the project organisers, Olive Halpin. “Every single per- son in Clare must have contributed in some way. So much has already
come in and it’s still coming in. Peo- ple in Clare have been incredibly supportive.
The fund-raising events were as ingenious as they were useful. One volunteers company colleagues held a “guess who’s bum it 1s’, competi- tion, with photos of colleagues’ der- rieres.
All manner of items were auc- tioned, from pieces of art and furni- ture to the services of a fine stallion.
Another volunteer even auctioned his wife’s kisses!
Then there were the companies who contributed cash and all-impor- tant time off for their staff.
Lourda Doyle, said her employers, Isevier allow two days for taking part in voluntary work, called Care DEES
“I received a fantastic €1000 do- nation from Brenda Curtin MD of Elsevier. Gerry Gallagher organised a quiz at Christmas this collected €430. Liza raised €395 and I raised €900 in sponsorship from friends and colleagues in the company. They were brilliant’, said Lourda.
When all the cash is accounted
for, it’s expected that the full cost of the building of the care centre and hospice at Missionvale will be re- deemed.
But with a population of €125,000 in the township, living in the worst imaginable conditions and devastat- ed by disease, there is always a call on the Missionvale purse.
On-going support and funding is needed and Clare fundraisers are soon to set about a campaign to get standing orders to help run the school and the newly built centre.
The last thing which the final volun- teers did before they left Missionvale was to walk the ground and plant a tree, where it’s hoped the Irish will return again in 2010 to build homes for AIDS orphans.