Jack & Jill went up the hill

A CHARITY is calling on local people to walk or run up a hill in September and raise funds while having a bit of fun.

‘Up the Hill for Jack & Jill’ was launched at Ardgillan Castle earlier this month. Registration for the event, which costs €16, is open at www.jackandjill.ie

People can participate individually or with friends, family, colleagues, schoolmates, gym buddies and dogs. 

Every €16 donation funds one hour of home nursing care for a sick child.

Local woman Sandra Salmon, Fran Cochrane and their daughter Hannah Cochrane (20-month-old), from Balbriggan, walked up the hill at Ardgillan Castle with 70 friends, along with Jonathan Irwin, chief executive of the Jack & Jill Children’s Foundation on the day of the launch.  

Sandra, whose daughter Hannah is supported by Jack & Jill, said: “This is an amazing charity and very close to our hearts.  

“They have been our lifeline for the past year and a half, supporting us with home nursing care for Hannah and all sorts of practical support in terms of equipment and advice.”

Sandra said they would be well and truly lost without the support of the charity.  

“Our little ray of sunshine Hannah is super excited about the walk but is turning into a diva, demanding of course that her Mam push her up this hill,” she added.  

“I can’t get over the response we’ve received for our ‘Up the Hill for Jack & Jill’ (event), and a huge thanks to my friend Lisa Maguire who did a lot of the organising for today (launch day) and to Ardgillan Castle for allowing us to walk their grounds in such numbers.”

Chief executive and founder of Jack & Jill, Jonathan Irwin, said the charity wouldn’t exist without the kindness of families like the Salmons who “give us that push up the fundraising hill every year”.   

“This has been another tough year with one charity scandal after another, each one denting the trust and confidence of the whole charity sector,” said Mr Irwin. 

“That’s why it’s so important for charities like ours to show where the money goes and every €16 donated to Jack & Jill funds one hour of home nursing care and respite for families.   

“We’ve got people registering to walk, run and cycle big hills and small, with others hosting barbeques with hills of burgers, or dinner parties with hills of food.  We’ve got gyms putting on extra steep fitness classes and ramping up the incline on their treadmills throughout September.”

Mr Irwin added: “And I must mention ‘Mutley and his mates’ in Portmarnock, the groomers and dog friendly cafe walking their dogs up the hill for Jack & Jill, marvellous stuff.  This is about community helping community and the money raised locally stays locally and we can show the county breakdown of hours funded.”

The Jack & Jill Children’s Foundation provides home nursing care and respite to 281 children around Ireland from birth to four-years-old.