Emotional Croagh Patrick 'Climb for Elaine' is a massive success
Family and friends of a young Tullamore woman who passed away just six weeks after a cancer diagnosis completed an emotional climb of Croagh Patrick on Saturday last as part of their campaign to raise €100,000 for the refurbishment of the Special Care Room Garden at Tullamore Hospital.
46-year-old Elaine Healion (née Halloran) from Spollanstown passed away in Tullamore hospital on August 11 last year leaving behind her devastated husband, Derek, and three young daughters, Leah, Katie and Emily.
To honour the life and legacy of the much-loved young mother, her family and friends decided to establish a fundraising initiative called 'Climb for Elaine' with all funds raised being used to refurbish the garden in the hospital where they found some solace and respite during the last weeks of her life.
While a number of events have already taken place as part of the initiative - among them being a Coffee Morning in Geashill which raised €1,365, a Cake Sale in the Bridge Centre and a Dance for Elaine event in Durrow Hall - the flagship fundraising event was last Saturday's Croagh Patrick climb which was a huge success.
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A large ‘Together for Elaine’ banner was unfurled at the summit of Croagh Patrick on Saturday last in memory of Elaine Healion as a huge crowd of family and friends climbed the holy mountain to raise funds for the refurbishment of the Special Care Garden at the Midland Regional Hospital in Tullamore.The weather gods were looking down on the climbers, who enjoyed breathtaking views across Clew Bay and the Atlantic coastline from the summit.
Buggy Coaches provided free transport for all the climbers from Tullamore to the base of the world-famous mountain just outside Westport, and the event was followed by an auction and social event in the Harbour Bar on the group's return to Tullamore.
The 'Climb for Elaine' fundraising initiative has raised almost €70,000 of its fundraising target to date and donations can still be made online on the idonate page: https://www.idonate.ie/crowdfunder/climbforelaine
Donations can also be made via Tullamore Credit Union, using the following details:
Account Name: In Memory of Elaine Healion
IBAN: IE24 TURU 9910 0408 4016 02
BIC:TURUIE21XXX
Climb for Elaine can also be followed on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.
Full details are available at: https://www.idonate.ie/crowdfunder/climbforelaine