Charity partnership to help children’s hospice care

LAURALYNN Ireland’s Children’s Hospice and AIL Group have announced a three-year charity partnership.

Money raised through Abrakebabra, Bagel Factory and O’Brien’s restaurants through customer fundraising initiatives will help LauraLynn to provide palliative care to children with life-limiting conditions and their families.

With a focus on enhancing quality of life, LauraLynn provides support from diagnosis to end of life, and throughout bereavement, with a range of practical, emotional and medical care for the whole family.

In total it costs €5.1m each year to provide LauraLynn’s specialised care to 200 families.

Some €3.5m of that must be fundraised each year. Of every euro fundraised, 87c is used to provide direct care to families, and 13c is used for governance and to raise funds.

Speaking about the charity partnership, LauraLynn CEO Sharon Morrow said: “We are delighted that AIL Group has selected LauraLynn as its charity partner.

“Not only will the relationship raise money for LauraLynn, it will also help us to raise awareness of what we do among the customers of Abrakebabra, Bagel Factory and O’Briens.

“We simply could not provide our services without the fundraising effort of companies and individuals around Ireland.”

AIL Group Chairman Graeme Beere said they and their franchise partners were proud to help.

“We will utilise our network of 130 restaurants nationwide to help raise awareness and much needed funds for LauraLynn over the coming years,” he vowed.

Grace Aboyade-Cole (8) who attended the  launch, has benefited from LauraLynn’s services for the past seven years.

Grace loves meeting new people and really enjoys all the activities that take place at LauraLynn, especially singing. She loves being in the limelight and is delighted to be a celebrity for the day!

For more information on how you can support LauraLynn, visit www.lauralynn.ie