JACK AND JILL SUPPORTED BY BANK OF IRELAND LAUNCHES CHARITY FUNDRAISER

REGISTER NOW AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE TO IRISH FAMILIES USING JACK & JILL’S NURSING AND RESPITE SERVICES

Tuesday 12th September:  Jack & Jill supported by Bank of Ireland have launched the Up the Hill for Jack & Jill fundraiser 2017. The charity fundraiser in aid of the Jack & Jill Children’s Foundation is asking people throughout Ireland to climb a hill to raise money for this worthy cause. 13 events are taking place nationwide on Saturday 7th of October and people can register for €16 on www.jackandjill.ie or can create their own “Up The Hill” event to raise much needed funds.

It costs €16 to register for this event which funds 1 hour of home nursing care for a sick child locally. Bank of Ireland is supporting this Up the Hill for Jack & Jill initiative by adding €4 per registration with a value of €16 or more, for the first 12,000 registrations.

Jack & Jill is hoping to raise over €100,000 through this annual fundraiser and to raise awareness of its unique home nursing care and respite service which operates 365 days a year with no means test or waiting list for the families of children, from birth to 4 years of age, with severe developmental delay as a result of brain damage. Jack & Jill also provide an end of life support service to all children requiring it in this age category across the country.

Speaking at the launch today in Phoenix Park, GAA legend and Jack & Jill board member John O’Leary said: “Our son Tom has been supported by the Jack & Jill Charity for a number of years and the work they do and care they provide is second to none. Fundraisers such as this are crucial to the ongoing success of the charity and we would like to encourage as many people as possible to get involved”.

There are two pathways to take and people can either register now to climb one of 13 nominated hills on Saturday 7th October at 11am (in counties Cork, Donegal, Clare, Dublin, Galway, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Tipperary, Waterford, Westmeath, Wicklow and Wexford) or register to design their own Up the Hill event locally in the first week of October”.

Audrey Nolan Head of CSR at Bank of Ireland said, “As one of our flagship charity partners we are delighted to be involved with this year’s Up the Hill for Jack & Jill fundraising initiative. The charity does such fantastic work in supporting children and families throughout the country and we are encouraging everyone to get out there and climb a hill to help raise some much needed funds”.

Hugo Jellett, CEO of Jack & Jill said: “Up the Hill for Jack & Jill is all about getting the local community out to show their support for the 300 families under our wing around the country. We’ve got quite a collection of hills to climb on Saturday 7th October and I want to encourage as many people as possible to step out and support Jack & Jill by registering for one of these fun events, or by creating their own Up the Hill.”
For further information and to register for an event please visit: www.jackandjill.ie.

For further press information please contact: Fionnuala Kavanagh at Q4PR on 01475144 or 0876527816 or Carmel Doyle on 087 2473537.

Editor’s notes:
The Jack & Jill Children’s Foundation provides direct funding and vital home nursing support and respite to families of children with brain damage up to the age of 4 who suffer severe intellectual and physical developmental delay, enabling them to purchase home respite care. These are children who, because of their condition, are tube fed, oxygen dependent, take seizures, are on heavy medication and require intensive home nursing care, but underneath all this disability these are children who do better at home, where their families want them to be for whatever time they have. The Foundation also provides end of life care to all children, including children with cancer, who require it up to the age of 4 years. Each year, Jack & Jill must raise €3.5 million to provide its unique service delivered 365 days a year with no means test and no waiting list. With less than 20% from the Government the charity relies on the generosity of the public and fundraising initiatives like this to keep going. It was set up in 1997 by Jonathan Irwin and his wife Mary Ann O’Brien in memory of their son Jack who they nursed at home for his short life and whose home nursing plan became the blueprint for the Jack & Jill service.

Up the Hill for Jack & Jill Events take place in the following locations on Saturday 7th October:

  • Clare – 12 O’Clock Hills
  • Cork – Coomhola
  • Donegal – Killybegs
  • Dublin – Portmarnock
  • Galway – Mam Ean
  • Kildare – Donadea Forest Park
  • Kilkenny – Castlecomer Discovery Park
  • Laois – Ballagh
  • Tipperary – Slievenamon
  • Westmeath – Hill na Uisneach
  • Wicklow – Glendalough
  • Waterford – Longhill
  • Wexford – Carrigbyrne Hill