Uisneach named as venue for Up the Hill for Jack and Jill Campaign
'Up the Hill for Jack & Jill' is this year’s fundraiser for the Jack and Jill Foundation – and one of the hills supporters are being asked to climb is Westmeath’s famed Hill of Uisneach.
The ‘Up the Hill for Jack & Jill’ fundraiser 2018 runs from October 7-14, and Leinster and Ireland rugby player Seán O’Brien has rowed in behind the effort.
To participate, just register, donate €16 and start climbing!
Westmeath currently has four children receiving assistance from the Jack and Jill Foundation and the €16 donation sought from participants in the “Up the Hill” challenge will fund one hour of home nursing care for a sick child.
In total, 49 Westmeath families have received support from the charity since its foundation in 1997.
According to the Foundation, the support of Sean O’Brien is helping to shine a light on the important work the charity does in local communities and the hill that Jack & Jill families climb every day in caring for their sick child.
‘Up the Hill’ is part of Jack & Jill’s first ever Awareness Week - #jackandjillweek running from Sunday October 7 to Saturday October 14.
A full programme of activities and events is planned with more details over the coming weeks and during #jackandjillweek.
Speaking at the launch, Carmel Doyle, Interim CEO Jack & Jill said; ‘’Up the Hill for Jack & Jill is all about getting the local community out to show their support for the 355 families under our wing in towns and villages in every county in Ireland.”
To register go to: www.jackandjill.ie/upthehill
BACKGROUND
The Jack & Jill Children’s Foundation provides direct funding and vital home nursing support and respite to families of children up to the age of 5 who suffer severe intellectual and physical developmental delay, enabling them to purchase home respite care.
These are children who, because of their condition, are tube fed, oxygen dependent, take seizures, are on heavy medication and require intensive home nursing care, but underneath all this disability these are children who do better at home, where their families want them to be for whatever time they have.
The Foundation also provides end of life care to all children, including children with cancer, who require it up to the age of 5 years.