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Launch of St Joseph’s Ward Refurbishment Fund in conjunction with Apache Pizza
St Joseph’s Ward, Our Lady's Children’s Hospital, Crumlin Date: Monday, May 11, 2009 Time: 3pm
Apache Pizza has agreed to donate €3 from every “The Alison” pizza sold in 40 restaurants nationwide to St Joseph’s Ward, Our Lady's Children’s Hospital, Crumlin.
Robert Pendelton, the Managing Director of Apache Pizza presented the hospital with a cheque for €2,500 this afternoon to kick-start a refurbishment fund.
St Joseph’s Ward in Our Lady's Children’s Hospital, Crumlin is a special place – a place where heartbreak and hope flourish in equal measure. It is here that courageous children suffering from neurological and orthopaedic problems fight for their lives. Children with chronic epilepsy. Children who will never walk. Children who survive and go on to live full lives because of the expert care they receive. “Conditions on the ward are challenging. And, still, all you see are the smiles and laughter, the determination, the strength and the encouragement. A spirit of kindness is what strikes the visitor most,” said Sinead Halpin whose niece Olivia spent a lot of time on the ward in early 2009. When Sinead and her husband, Gary, who themselves own an Apache Pizza restaurant in Newbridge, became aware of the underfunding of St Joesph’s, they decided to fundraise to try to improve conditions for staff, patients and their families.
On Monday afternoon, St Joseph’s ward was transformed by a special celebration to mark the launch of this fund. Party People from Newbridge festooned the ward with balloons. Emma O’Driscoll, a face familiar to children all over Ireland from Den Tots TV, RTE, visited the children in the ward. Scrumptious food supplied by Apache Pizza was scoffed by delighted kids.
Outside in the sunshine, Rip Tide Movement, an up-and-coming Irish band performed songs from their album and handed out signed copies. Tricky Tricksters were on site painting faces and performing balloon art. Bob the Builder and a Dalmation character also made appearances while Tricky Tricksters thrilled the children with a riveting magic show. Satisfied children departed with goodie bags donated by Super Value Sallins. For a few brief hours on Monday afternoon an air of joy dominated the ward in Our Lady's Children’s Hospital. Sorrow and pain were banished in a riot of colour, balloons, painted faces and laughter. The sun broke through the clouds.
