Research funding: Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children last week received a cheque for €60,000 for its research on cystic fibrosis following one community's determined effort to fundraise and assist a local family.
Dr Marian Brogan, a GP in Boyle, Co Roscommon, said that when one local family learnt that their third child had been born with cystic fibrosis some 15 months ago, it was the impetus to begin a fundraising campaign.
"We decided to direct our funding toward research, because the Government currently provides no research funding and because it's a tragic condition which needs research so that new improved treatments can be found, which might one day lead to a cure," said Dr Brogan.
The money raised will be put towards a project in Crumlin which is examining the effect of cystic fibrosis on the lungs, organs and liver in conjunction with Toronto Hospital for Sick Children.
A ball in Carrick-on-Shannon, Co Leitrim earlier this month, in which Dr Gerard Canny of Our Lady's Hospital was invited as a guest speaker, raised €61,528.95. The cheque was presented to Dr Canny in the hospital last week.
"People were extraordinarily generous in their response. There is such goodwill and such a tremendous sense of interest in the condition among people," said Dr Brogan. She said this was exemplified by people's willingness to donate cruise holidays and premiership match tickets for raffle.
Another event for 2008 is being planned as a follow-up to this month's fundraising event.