Limerick people are being asked to clean out their wardrobes and spring clean their attics to raise funds for a three-year-old boy who underwent pioneering surgery that gave him a revolutionary bionic ear.Calum’s Hope for Hearing Clothing Recycling Drive, which will raise funds for little Calum Geary’s intensive post operative care, was launched this week by Limerick and Na Piarsaigh senior hurling duo Shane Dowling and Kevin Downes.
Friends and family in Limerick are organising the fund-raising venture for the toddler, who underwent the surgery for Auditory Brainstem Implants in Manchester University Hospital last month.
The HSE has covered the cost of the operation for the little boy from Ballyhooly, Co Cork, and now the family have to find €60,000 more to cover the follow-up treatment, which will include the services of language therapists in California.
The Limerick Clothing and Recycling Drive will kick-off this Friday, March 23rd and run until Good Friday, April 6. The South Court Hotel in Raheen has donated a room which will act as the collection point for the two weeks.
“There has been a great response to the fund-raising from the length and breadth of the country. We have found the whole process very humbling to see people making such generous donations at a time of great hardship,” said Calum’s aunt Joan O’Connell, who is living in Pallaskenry.
“Everyone has been so generous to-date and many of my friends, neighbours and work colleagues were enquiring as to how they could help. A work colleague Pat O’Neill came up with the idea of the clothing and recycling drive, which is great because everyone looks for motivation to do a spring clean and people will be able to contribute significantly to Calum’s fund, without spending a penny,” explained Joan. “I have to say a big thank you to management in the South Court Hotel, who are allowing us to use their premises as the collection point. We are organising the Clothing and Recycling Drive in conjunction with Lenrec Ltd – clothes, textile and phone recycling company. People can simply bring bags full of old clothes, bed linen, towels and textiles including shoes, bags, belts and soft toys as well as mobile phones to reception in the South Court Hotel and all will help us raise funds,” she outlined.
As well as the clothing and recycling drive, a set dancing ceilí is to take place in Dolan’s Limerick on Tuesday April 17th with music by Michéal Sexton. Further infor-mation about the clothing and recycling drive is available from Joan O’Connell (087-9858130) or Pat O’Neill (087-2074693).