Back (from left): Mattie Lynch, Tom Maguire, Frank Walls, Paul Kelly and Jimmy Galligan; front, Paddy Grogan, St Christopher’s Hospice holding a cheque amounting to €12,854; Grainne McGettigan, Cancer Care West after receiving a cheque for €5,000 and Jimmy O’Donnell, Cavan Monaghan Palliative Care fund with a cheque for €12,854.

Head shave raises €30,000

Sean McMahon

Published: Mon 13 Sep 2021, 2:59 PM

Last updated: Mon 13 Sep 2021, 3:03 PM

Some €30,000 in funding has been generated for three cancer charities through a head shave event in the Market Square in Cavan Town earlier this year.

Paddy Grogan from St Christopher’s Hospice accepted a cheque for €12,854. He said it was an amazing amount of money and congratulated all involved in the fundraiser.

Paddy is the only member of the original St Christopher’s Committee still involved, after the recent death of another founding member, Sr Assumpta Kelly.

Jimmy O’Donnell from the Cavan Monaghan Palliative Care Fund also took possession of a cheque amounting to €12,854. "This amount of money will make a huge difference to the palliative care team. It is fundraisers like this that allow us to do what we do and we are really grateful for this support."

He noted it is 28 years ago since the organisation held its first ever fundraiser in the Golf Club in Belturbet.

"Annually we would be looking at between 300 and 400 patients under the care of the team. There are a huge number of people who don’t become palliative care patients and get over cancer. There are a lot of people living with cancer today, that maybe 15 years ago might not have been able to do so," said Mr O’Donnell.

Grainne McGettigan, Cancer Care West, said it was fantastic to receive a cheque amounting to €5,000.

The men involved in the fundraiser, co-ordinated by Tom Maguire from Erne Motor Works, were thrilled with the success of the event.

The original target was somewhere between €10,000 and €20,000.

Paul Kelly said said the response from supporters was "phenomenal" and it was "humbling" to be involved.

Frank Walls: "We have all been touched by cancer and it is close to everybody’s heart and that is why there was such a good response – please God it will do some good".

Jimmy Galligan agreed. "It is one of the best things I have done in my life – to see other people benefitting from a simple thing like a head shave is absolutely brilliant."

"I am just stunned at the generosity of the people," added another participant Mattie Lynch.

Mattie is continuing with his fundraising for good causes and will be participating in the ‘cycle against suicide’ from Malin to Mizen, commencing this Sunday, September 19.