Brave Emmeline raises over €500K

The parents of the late Emmeline Holland have said they overwhelmed by the public’s response to an appeal to support three charities.

Emmeline was welcomed into the world on 19 November 2018 and was diagnosed with a heart defect and later transferred to Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital in Crumlin when other health issues started to emerge.

Emmeline was only three weeks old when her parents, Lanlih Keane and Billy Holland, were given the news that she would live a short life. They asked to bring her to Cork to live out her remaining days at home but their daughter survived for longer than initially believed.

Her health started to deteriorate quickly in May 2019, and she passed away peacefully on 18 May 2019.

As of Wednesday afternoon, over €500,000 had been pledged to a dedicated GoFundMe account Brave like Emmeline Holland to support three charities, Crumlin Children’s Hospital, CUH Children’s Unit and Ronald McDonald House.

All three charities were hugely supportive during Emmeline’s short life.

Munster Rugby player Billy and his wife Lanlih had initially hoped to raise €100,000, but donations sky-rocketed after their appearance on ‘The Late Late Show’ last Friday.

They say they have been totally overwhelmed by the public’s response.

Billy said: “Our minds are blown by the incredible number of donations, but more so the kind of heartwarming comments we have received. It’s amazing to see how many people out there are going through something similar now or did so in the past. The people of this country have been shown to be so generous. Emmeline was only 6 months old, but she managed to do more than most people will do in a lifetime. We’ll look back in years to come with incredible appreciation for how people have reacted to us telling our personal story.”

The couple intend to continue to fundraise in their daughter’s memory with an auction and golf event scheduled for later in the year.