'Angel’ Noelle to shave head for CF pals

Jenny McGovern

Killeshandra native Noelle Farrelly will be shaving off her long red hair this Friday, November 22, in aid of Cystic Fibrosis (CF) patients in Cavan General Hospital.
Despite having no immediate connection with the disease she has been an avid fundraiser for Cavan CF. On the eve of her selfless act she spoke to the Celt about her reasons for the head shave.
“I am very thankful and lucky that I have four healthy children. Others are not so fortunate. Last year my friend, Lorraine O’ Neill [who’s little girl, Mia, has CF], asked if people would be interested in running the Dublin City Marathon to help raise funds to build special facilities in Cavan General.
“I have always wanted to run a marathon so it was the perfect opportunity to try it and do some good at the same time,” she said.

Efforts

The marathon group raised €80,000 last year, which has gone towards establishing an out patient department in Cavan General hospital for CF patients.
Noelle continues: “We ran our second marathon in October this year. Instead of the usual sponsor cards each runner held a fundraiser and the head shave is my contribution.
“It’s only hair at the end of the day it will grow back eventually! I have had the same hairstyle more or less for over twenty years, so it’s time for a change. I think it will be quite liberating.”
Redhills’ Lorraine said: “When Noelle told me, I said: 'Not a hope, you’re not taking off your lovely hair.’ “But she was determined, she said: 'No, it’s going’.
“It’s something she wanted to do. It’s another example of the goodness in people, CF awareness is important to me but what’s important to me doesn’t necessarily have to be important to others but I’ve found that I have the best friends in the world.
“The things they’re doing for my daughter and people like her are unbelievable, their good nature is so touching,” she said.

'Angel’

“I just think Noelle is an angel on earth, we are so thankful because yet again it’s keeping Cavan CF in people’s minds, and that’s what we need until we get in patient facilities in Cavan. All our work has brought out-patient facilities but we need to keep it up, and that is exactly what Noelle is doing.
“She has ran two marathons for us already. She’s such an angel, such a generous person and she has so much drive. As Noelle says herself she has four healthy children and she’s so lucky, and she is lucky, but amn’t I so lucky to have friends like her,” she said.
Lorraine herself will be shaving off Noelle’s hair on Friday night in the Slieve Rossa and she admits it will be an emotional experience.
“It’s a massive thing, especially for a woman. There’ll be lots of tears.”
Michael Mooney of the Slieve Rossa will be donating an extra €500. Lorraine credits him as another staunch supporter of CF.
 “He is exceptional, he’s always giving.”
Noelle’s shave takes place on Friday, November 22, at 10pm in the Slieve Rossa.

Donations welcomed on the night. There are many collection buckets dotted around premises in Cavan town or you can donate via www.mycharity.ie/event/lorraine?ref=nf .