Ronan Bushell, Áine McKeown, Unicef Ireland, Deirdre Bushell, Tracey Bushell and Regina Bushell, MD Grovelands Childcare, with, in front Naoise Brennan, Kade Tracey and Daisy Morden. Photo: Ger Rogers Photo.

Grovelands Childcare raises €13k for earthquake appeal

Grovelands Childcare raised a massive €13,000 for UNICEF work in Syria and Turkey from its Pyjama Day events across its centres in Tullamore, Athlone and Mullingar.

The fundraiser was prompted by media coverage of the earthquake in Syria and Turkey in February.

As a result, Grovelands launched a fund raising event where staff and children would wear their pyjamas for the day and source sponsorship

Each child was given an envelope, designed for the event to gather sponsorship. A GoFundMe page also set up to allow donations from suppliers and friends.

Regina explained that the Grovelands decided to support children’s charity UNICEF Ireland who have people working on the ground in Syria and Turkey.

Regina Bushell, Managing Director of Grovelands Childcare, said:” I wish to say a big thank you to the Grovelands team for the success of our Pyjama Day across our six centres in Athlone, Tullamore and Mullingar.

“The communities in which we provide early learning and care again supported us with contributions and the parents’ and grandparents’ support was amazing.

Hailing the support as “overwhelming”, she said: “We set out a target of €4,000. We have raised a massive €13,000 and to say we are thrilled with the support is an understatement.”

The funds were presented to Áine McKeon from Unicef Ireland on Wednesday in its Tullamore centre. Áine outlined how UNICEF Ireland was very grateful for all the hard work in raising funds for UNICEF Ireland and the Turkey-Syria Earthquake Appeal.”

This money will support Syrian and Turkish families to get their basic needs met with food, shelter and medicine, she outlined.