Members of the Austin Dobson Memorial Fundraiser Committee handing over funds they raised to representatives of the Mater Foundation.

Events in memory of late Austin Dobson raise double of targets

Thanks to local generosity, community spirit and an outpouring of support, a fundraiser in memory of the late Austin Dobson has raised €18,810.55 for the Mater Hospital.

The memorial fundraiser was organised by family members to support the Heart and Lung Transplant Unit and Cancer Care at the Mater, both of which affected Austin’s life.

Austin was a well-known and respected figure in the motorcycle racing community and the Walderstown road races. He was cared for at the Mater Hospital over a number of years and sadly passed away in October 2016.

As a gesture of appreciation for the care that Austin received during his illness, his family and friends wanted give something back to the Mater in his memory.

This led to a number of successful fundraising initiatives. They started with a 5km last March, organised a bucket collection in May and finished with a draw and benefit night in the Ringtown GAA hall at the end of September.

Generous support

Ollie O’Grady, chairman of the Austin Dobson Memorial Fundraiser Committee, spoke of the support they received and the generosity and community spirit shown:

“It seems like ages since I first mentioned the idea among family and friends that it would be nice to give a little back to the Mater Hospital in Austin’s memory. We formed a committee and spoke with the Mater Foundation with the goal of raising €7500.

“On behalf of the committee, we would like to thank the community at large and all who helped us to, not only achieve our target, but more than double it. On a personal note, I would like to thank the committee members Olivia, Pat, Johnny, Sean and Ollie, without whose support this fundraiser would not have happened.”

Mary Moorhead, chief executive of the Mater Foundation, which is the official fundraising body of the Mater Hospital, said: “This wonderful donation from the Austin Dobson Memorial Fundraiser will go to enhancing care for our heart and lung transplant patients and our cancer patients in the Mater Hospital.

“It is the small things that really matter when it comes to patient care; for example we want to provide more comfortable seating for our patients in the post-transplant unit along with recliner chairs in every patient room in our main cancer care ward, St Vincent’s Ward, enabling family members to be close to their loved ones when they are very ill.

“I am deeply grateful to the Dobson and O’Grady family along with their incredible team of volunteers who tirelessly worked in raising these funds. It is a wonderful tribute to Austin and all that he achieved in his lifetime.”