• Players line up for LauraLynn launch
  • PFA Ireland announce Charity Partner for 2018 - LauraLynn

    PFA Ireland are delighted to announce that their charity partner for this year will be LauraLynn, Ireland’s Children’s Hospice. PFA Ireland will hold two fundraising events between now and the end of November in aid of the children’s charity – the PFA Ireland 5K Fun Run on November 4th followed by a draw at our Awards Dinner on Saturday, November 10th in The Marker Hotel.

    LauraLynn is the only children’s hospice in the Republic of Ireland, providing palliative care to children with life-limiting conditions and their families. Their holistic approach supports the whole family, allowing patients to be children and parents to be mums and dads rather than full-time carers. Care can be provided in LauraLynn’s hospice in Dublin, in hospital, the community or in the family home, depending on the child’s medical needs and family preference. All services are provided free-of-charge to families. This year, LauraLynn must raise €4.2million to continue to provide their services to their children and families.

    LauraLynn estimates that up to one in five – or more than 720 in total - children with a life-limiting condition are unstable, deteriorating or at end-of-life and therefore in need of specialist hospice care. Since opening in September 2011, the Hospice has cared for more than 365 children and their families.

    PFA Ireland General Secretary, Stephen McGuinness said, “We surveyed our members with different options for our charity partner this year and they voted overwhelmingly in favour of LauraLynn. We visited the hospice recently to see the fantastic work they do and we, through our members are delighted to be able to contribute in some way to the huge €4.2 million that needs to be raised each year by LauraLynn. We urge all our members and members of the football community to come out and support our 5k Run on the morning of the Irish Daily Mail FAI Cup Final and to help in any way they can in the fundraising efforts. We will also be holding a draw at our Awards Dinner on 10 November and we are hoping to raise something in the region of €10,000.”

    Sarah Meagher, Head of Fundraising at LauraLynn commented; “We’re honoured to be chosen as this year’s charity partner with the PFA Ireland. To have the support of an organisation such as the PFA Ireland and their players, and to have been chosen overwhelmingly by their members as this year’s charity partner is incredibly humbling. We’re excited to be part of this year’s 5k ‘Fun Run’ and the upcoming Awards Dinner and want to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their support – we hope they’re two fantastic events!”

    Players who were present at the launch today in LauraLynn House were Dan Carr (Shamrock Rovers), Stephen O’Donnell (Dundalk), Shane Supple (Bohemian FC), Dean Clarke (St. Patricks Ath) and Paul Skinner (Drogheda Utd).

    The 5K run will take place at 10.30am and finish at the Aviva Stadium on the morning of the FAI Cup Final, Sunday 4th November. For more details on the run and for sponsorship cards please contact the office on 018999350 or email info@pfai.ie
    For more information on LauraLynn and the work they do please visit www.lauralynn.ie