This article is from page 76 of the 2009-12-08 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 76 JPG
CLUBS from across Clare’s soccer community are coming together to support an end of year fundraiser for the Clare Hospice, Cahercalla.
‘Soccer for Cahercalla’ – a super soccer blitz for boys and girls aged between six and 11 – takes place at the Lees Road sports complex, Ennis on Saturday, December 19.
All monies received from the blitz and supporting activities will go towards the Clare Hospice, Caher- calla.
The event is being organised by Robert McCarthy and his family with the help of many volounteers. Ennis- native Robert has been involved with underage soccer for many years and is currently manager of Avenue Unit- ed’s under 13 A team. His mother,
Kathleen, died on October 5 in the Hospice in Cahercalla.
Robert explained that the care Kathleen received and the support given to her family by the nursing team, doctors and support staff will never be forgotten.
“Tt is likely that almost every fam- ily in Clare at one time or another has or will need the facilities the Clare Hospice provides. To survive however the hospice needs our finan- cial help and this fundraiser from the Clare schoolboy/girl soccer commu- nity will help a great deal.”
Robert has set a fundraising tar- get of €5,000, but given the strong level of support the tournament has already received from the Clare schoolboys/girls soccer league, clubs, parents and staff at Lees Road, he is optimistic that the target can be
surpassed.
‘A lot of businesses have come on board, so we’re very optimistic that we’ll surpass the €5,000 target. I’ve been seriously taken aback by the amount of ordinary Joe-soaps who’ ve given €5 or €10. All the referees are giving their time on the day. It’s a huge community effort,” he said.
The focus of the event is fun for all the family but with some keen com- petitive action. Clubs are invited to bring along as many children as they wish. Games will be in 15 minutes in total and all children will have equal Oe-Nauercan ape nten
In addition to the soccer action, there will be lots of other activities for the family to enjoy and rumour has it that there may even be a visit from Santa and friends.
Registration takes place on the
morning of December 19. Clubs are asked to make a small donation to the Clare Hospice and each child is asked to bring €5 donation or what- ever they can afford.
The donation is not a requirement of participation and every child is welcome.
Robert hopes that the tournament can become an annual event. “We’d be looking to expand it next year. There is a lot of organisation with doing it the first year, but after that it should be easier the next year. We’ve built up a lot of links with clubs. Next year we’d be looking to invite teams from Limerick, Kerry, Galway.”