The WLR Christmas Radio Appeal has raised over €100,000 for the St Vincent De Paul in Waterford, Tramore and Dungarvan.
Through a series of events over the month of December, WLR listeners came together to raise funds for those most in need in Waterford.
Michael Byrne, WLR’s Operations Manager said the Appeal is a massive undertaking for the station, but worth all the time and effort, with all money raised staying in the locality to help Waterford people through Christmas and into the new year:
The appeal co-ordinator, Sarah-Jane O’Brien did a remarkable job this year and with the help of the inhouse committee of Des Whelan, Aoibhin Fallon, Vincent Bradley, Mary O’Neill, Ray C, Oliver Carroll and Adam Wyse, helped raise €101,349. Our Listeners are just fantastic and we are really grateful for their support. To the many appeal supporters and businesses, thank you all for your time and contributions.
Various events for the WLR Christmas Appeal
One of the first events was the Mark White Fitness Bootcamp and donation raffle which took place in Tramore AFC over three weekends in November and early December. This raised a massive €15,383 for the Appeal.
A number of schools also got involved, taking part in Red To School and 1,000k in a Day. Pupils from St. Declan’s in Kilmacthomas raised a brilliant €1300, while the Ursuline primary school in Waterford city raised €1,019. St. Angela’s, The Mercy and The Presentation secondary school TY students raised €1,200 between them, giving a total of €3,030 for the 1,000k in a Day initiative.
On Saturday 18th December Kieran O’Connor, Sean Organ, Michael Byrne, Declan Prendergast and Tom Power hosted the Farmview Auction which raised a total of €8,643 in just 90 minutes. This was due to the kind donations from the local farming community who continue to support WLR and St Vincent De Paul.
Also on Saturday 18th, The Big Christmas Breakfast took place at the Guillamene in Tramore, raising €2,000. Our thanks again to Sea Brew Coffee Van, Tom from Tramore Butchers and Walsh's Bakehouse who provided the food and warm coffee. Also, to the guys from Waterford City Fire Brigade, including Roy Collins who provided the entertainment!
Care For A Cuppa was another fabulous event which ran across the county on Thursday 16th December. There were coffee mornings at the Bishop's Palace Cafe on The Mall in Waterford, with coffee provided by Barista Bay Coffee Co (from where Damien Tiernan did a live broadcast), The Coast Guard Station in Tramore, The Lemon Tree Cafe in Dunmore East, Cass & Co. in Dungarvan, who raised €800 for the appeal AND Regina Mangan, Liberty Blue Estate agents, & Fintan Stanley, Blue Butterfly Coffee who raised €1500 with events in the Apple Market and The Old Bank in Dungarvan. The overall tally for Care For a Cuppa was €3,062.
Soprano Vanessa Whelan and Tenor Glenn Murphy performed The Magic of Christmas in the Holy Cross church Tramore for the Appeal and that event raised €5,180. This was one of the highlights of the run-in to Christmas with over 200 people attending (socially distanced). Our thanks to Vanessa and Glenn, as well as Musical Director Dylan Browne, Violinist Barry Kennedy and soloist Caoimhe Power. Also, special mention to Fr. Shane O’Neill and sacristans Helen and Michael Crowley for their kind hospitality as well as sponsors Casia Flowers, Tramore, and Paul Kenny's Haven Pharmacy, Tramore. A recording of this concert aired on Christmas Day at midday.
Red to Work was another great success this year with 45 companies taking part including Flahavans Porridge in Kilmacthomas, (the staff and management there raised €1,000) TEVA (staff and management at the Waterford city plant raised €2,000), DPD Waterford (staff and management at the Waterford city depot raised €1,200) and also T&T coaches (drivers and management raised €1,300). The total money raised through Red To Work and Red To School was €16,500.
BlaaGiveaways.ie ran a raffle on their site and it raised €2,850 for the WLR Christmas Appeal. Waterford’s writer’s guild held an event and it raised €570. Ray Colclough hosted a Star Wars Raffle when fans bid for these wonderful prizes, which were kindly donated.
The Christmas Day swim in Tramore raised over €2,000 and the Baldy Man Run on December 30th , raised over €5,000.
WLR would also like to thank all its corporate sponsors who raised a collective €40,000 in addition to the events mentioned above.
Happy New Year to all our listeners from all the team in WLR and The St. Vincent De Paul.
