Irish Rugby And The Donal Walsh Foundation Brighten Up Children’s Hospital
The Irish Rugby Football Union today brought a splash of colour to the corridors of Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital in Crumlin when Ireland players Rob Kearney, Mike McCarthy, Jack McGrath and team manager Michael Kearney made a surprise visit.
Rob Kearney, Mike McCarthy, Jack McGrath and manager Michael Kearney lined out at the installation of a 19-metre long Irish rugby artwork (of players running through a forest) and the announcement of a charity fundraising walk from the Aviva Stadium to Thomond Park.
The installation (designed by Louise Hart of the IRFU and Bossanova and installed by Exhibit) was organised by the IRFU and the Donal Walsh #Livelife Foundation to launch the walk.
The charity walk will see 50 Transition Year students from Donal’s CBS The Green & Mercy Mounthawk schools in Tralee, bring the #Livelife message to rugby clubs and schools in Dublin, Naas, Kildare, Portlaoise, Roscrea and Nenagh as they walk from the Aviva Stadium to Thomond Park.
The Donal Walsh #Livelife walk takes place from next Sunday, February 2 to rhe following Saturday, February 8 with collections in each of the towns along the route daily.
The first collection day will be around the Aviva Stadium at the Ireland v Scotland game and the final collection day around Thomond Park at the Munster v Cardiff Blues match.
The initiative will raise money for the Children’s Medical and Research Foundation, and kicks off this Sunday with a charity bucket collection outside the Aviva Stadium.
Elma Walsh from the #Livelife foundation said: “This walk brings together the school pals of Donal, his rugby friends and the hospital he was treated in for nearly three years.
“We are taking a week out to bring Donal’s #Livelife message from the Scotland v Ireland game at the Aviva Stadium to the Munster v Cardiff Blues game at Thomond Park, stopping along the way to talk with schools and rugby clubs.”
Gerry Cully from the Children’s Medical and Research Foundation commented: “Before Donal passed he was continually involved in various fundraising activities for us and raised many thousands either himself or in his name.
“This is a fitting tribute to link his own foundation to the hospital that had cared for him for so long. I am delighted that the Teen room that he so earnestly raised funds for is nearing completion and will be opened shortly.”
Stephen McNamara, director of communications with the IRFU, said: “We know Donal was a huge sports fan and that he was passionate about his rugby. He had a simple message for his peers to go out and choose to live life because he did not have that choice himself.
“We are delighted to be able to brighten the day of the children in the hospital and call on all fans attending the match this Sunday to dig deep for this initiative.
Tralee RFC Chairman Jeremy Walsh added: “The walk is being considered as an adventure with an opportunity to fundraise for the #Livelife Foundation, Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital in Crumlin and Tralee RFC charities.
“This idea had been moote a number of years ago as a bed push but when Donal was re-diagnosed it went on the back burner. Now we are delighted that the walk will be held in his memory.”
Related Links –
Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin