Inter-county players raise €80,000 for Cliona’s Foundation
Inter-county players across Ireland are proud of having raised €80,000 for Limerick based, national charity, Cliona’s Foundation, who were the Gaelic Players Association’s Official Charity Partner for 2022. GPA Player Welfare Manager Colm Begley handed over a cheque for this amount to Cliona’s Foundation co-founder and Voluntary CEO Brendan Ring at Croke Park today.
Cliona’s Foundation is a national charity, that uniquely provides financial assistance to families of children with a life-limiting or chronic complex care needs to help with non-medical expenses related to caring for their child.
Cliona’s Foundation were chosen as the GPA’s Official Charity Partner in July of 2021 but with the restrictions brought about by Covid-19 still impacting in the latter half of the year, the partnership was extended to the end of 2022.
During that time players have played a part in the official launch of the partnership, have taken part in visits to families in various counties, have fund raised within their own squads and have attended the GPA Legends Lunch, proceeds of which were added to the amount raised.
Speaking about today’s handover, CEO of the GPA Tom Parsons said; “Today brings the curtain down on one part of our relationship with Cliona’s Foundation as their term as our Official Charity Partner comes to an end. However, a friendship has been formed that will last, we hope, for many years to come.
“The work Cliona’s do across the island of Ireland is immeasurable. We are so happy that they welcomed us on to their team and shared their story and their vision with us. It was something that inter-county players were proud to support and we will always be there to support Cliona’s in other ways into the future.
“I want to thank Brendan and Terry Ring, Charlotte Kavanagh and Phil Deegan and all at Cliona’s Foundation for all they have done to make this partnership the success it became. I would also like to thank the players who backed the fundraising activities and anyone who contributed towards reaching this significant sum.”
Speaking on behalf of Cliona’s Foundation, co-founder and Voluntary CEO Brendan Ring added; “We here at Cliona’s are extremely grateful to everyone at the GPA for their amazing support in so many ways over the last year. Not alone have we benefited financially with an incredible amount of money of €80,000 raised over the last 12 months but we have been given the past year to allow us to spread the message and awareness of our work at Cliona’s to the wider community within and outside the GPA family.
“This has been a partnership that has fitted together so well from the get-go because both organisations care about their respective families whom they represent. The GPA strives to do its utmost to enhance the lives and wellbeing of its family namely the players both on and off the pitch. This by its nature extends to the players immediate family and friends which is hugely impactful just like the impact our charity partnership with the GPA has had for the families we have supported throughout the year.
“We will always be indebted to the GPA for giving us this amazing opportunity to grow as an organisation throughout the last year and for that we are extremely thankful.
“Wishing every success to the GPA for the years ahead. Go raibh míle maith agaibh.”
