Doing it for Lena
A former Cork City FC player is taking on a virtual 5km challenge in memory of his mother.
Declan Daly, league winner with City in 1993 and FAI Cup winner in 1998, will take on the challenge with his siblings, Geraldine, Paula and Kenneth, in honour of their mother Lena as well as frontline staff at the Mercy University Hospital.
In September 2020, Lena Daly sadly passed away at The Mercy after spending over three weeks there. Speaking about this difficult time in their lives, Declan said: “The efforts of the catering, cleaning, nursing and care teams contributed greatly to making my mam’s time on the wards a very dignified and humane one.”
This inspired the siblings to come together and raise funds for the Mercy University Hospital Foundation’s Covid-19 Appeal. Funds raised will support frontline staff at The Mercy as they work through the Covid-19 pandemic this Christmas. They are challenging themselves to walk or run 5km during the first two weeks of December and the siblings are inviting others to do the same.
Speaking about the challenge, Declan said: “For anyone who would like to get involved and support the Mercy Covid-19 Appeal, you can walk or run the 5km in one go or spread it out over the two weeks. Once your 5km is done, by using the funding page at justgiving.com/campaign/5kmforlenadaly, could you please make a donation online, post a photo of yourself completing the challenge on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram and tag the Mercy Hospital Foundation.
“There is also the option for you to set up your own fundraising page and ask friends and family for their support, this can also be done online using the above link. The challenge is open to all ages and abilities, and being virtual, means you can take part anywhere in the world and support front-line staff right here in Cork. Thank you in advance for any support you can give.”
Speaking about the difference that support like this has made, Mícheál Sheridan, CEO of The Mercy University Hospital Foundation, said: “Individuals and businesses all across Cork have gone above and beyond to support our Covid-19 Appeal. We are currently raising funds to purchase vital equipment for the new Covid Triage Unit in our Emergency Department. These funds will help us to purchase 14 vitals monitors and two defibrillators to help staff to constantly monitor Covid-19 patients and to respond to any cardiac arrests of Covid-19 patients. We are incredibly grateful to Declan and the Daly family who are joining us in supporting our frontline workers this December.”