Dungarvan woman Grace O'Callaghan has been honoured at this year’s Mercy Star Awards in Cork with the title of ‘Hero of the Year’.
The awards are organized by the Mercy University Hospital Foundation and the Mercy University Hospital.
They are aimed at celebrating the staff behind the Mercy University Hospital’s care for patients and their families in Munster in addition to fundraising volunteers whose efforts deserve special recognition.
The Hero of the Year award was presented to Grace, from Dungarvan, who undertook a very successful Facebook challenge in October, 2022.
Thereafter, she continued to find ways to raise over €15,000 and harness the power and support of her community for the Mercy Cancer Appeal, while at the same time supporting and caring for her son, Luke, while he attended the Mercy for cancer treatment.
Other award winners included the Browne family, from Ballincollig, who collected the Star Event organiser award honouring their son and brother, Ian Browne, whose legacy of funding began while he endured his own illness.
Ian, who passed away in January, 2021, raised nearly €5,000 in December, 2020, for the Mercy while undergoing cancer treatment. His family wanted to build on the wonderful work he did and undertook a ‘steps challenge’ which raised almost €25,000. His family also held a golf fundraiser on what would have been Ian’s 30th birthday earlier this year.
The Ballincollig area also had winners in the form of Noel and Coeurena Kelleher, and Kim Clifford, who received the Challenge Event star and Volunteer Star awards, respectively.
Cork City Fire Brigade was awarded the Civil Service Star award while the Star Church Gate collector award went to Úna Bresnan, from Ballinlough.
The Mercy Hospital has thousands of people all over Cork and beyond giving monthly donations to support it and the work to sign people up is a tough job; greeting people with a welcoming word no matter what the circumstances. In recognition of that Joey O’Connell, from Trinity Marketing, was named Star Door-to-Door Fundraiser.
Each year, the foundation works with a number of teachers and students to raise funds and awareness for the Mercy Hospital and schools are a vital part of the foundation’s work. In recognition of that St Colman’s College, in Fermoy, was awarded the School Fundraiser Star for its efforts in support of the Mercy Heroes street collection.
The Corporate Partnership Star went to Kieran Coughlan, from Lyonshall, who activated a network of donors during the pandemic that resulted in €260,000 being raised for the Mercy Covid Appeal.
Kieran said the award was greatly appreciated and said he was glad to accept it not only on his own behalf, but also on behalf of everyone who donated.
A Special Recognition Star was awarded to Ernest and Rachel Horgan, from Blackrock, for dedicating an immense amount of time and energy into fundraising for the Mercy Hospital in honour of their son, Jimmy.
Each year the Foundation shows its appreciation for a member of the hospital staff who goes above and beyond in support of the Foundation. Colin Curran, from Knocknaheeny, who is a porter in the Mercy, along with six of his colleagues will be taking to the skies over Co. Offaly on October 6, to skydive in memory of his son, Sonny. The group raised over €10,000 for the Safari Ward and the Kids & Teens Appeal.
This year’s Hospital Hero recipients included: Colin Curran, Phil Aldridge, Evan Cashman, James Taylor, Michael Murray, Jimmy McCarthy and Jason O’Sullivan.
Hospital Award winners at the event were composed of Allied Health Professionals while a Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Peter O’Callaghan, ICT Manager, Mercy University Hospital.
Speaking about the awards initiative on behalf of the staff and Board of the Mercy University Hospital Foundation, Deirdre Finn, Interim CEO and Head of Fundraising said: “We were delighted to celebrate everything that is good about the Mercy. Mercy Stars is a special event; it honours the tireless, dedicated work of the staff of the hospital, who so expertly and lovingly look after patients.”
“It also gives us an opportunity to thank our amazing fundraisers whose generosity of spirit helps us to achieve our goals in the Foundation to continually support the incredible work taking place in the hospital,” said Deirdre.
“I would like to thank Keane’s Jewellers for the beautiful Mercy Stars Awards that our winners received, and Trinity Marketing for their generous sponsorship of the event.”
For more information about the Foundation visit www.mercyhospitalfoundation.ie.
