Remembrance Tree Yields €1,045 for Kerry Cancer Support Group

At the presentation of the ‘Tree of Remembrance’ cheque at Nana Bea’s Cafe were, seated: Sheila O’Donoghue (left) and Bertha O’Sullivan. Back: Breda Dyland and Linda Daly, Kerry Cancer Support Group representatives with Ruth and John O’Donoghue and Trisha Higgins. ©Photograph: John Reidy

The third annual Christmas Tree of Remembrance at Nana Bea’s Cafe in Castleisland was erected on the cafe grounds at the end of November.

It was blessed and celebrated with mass on the Saturday afternoon of January 11th.

The tree has been a beacon of hope and light and a valued source of funding for the Kerry/Cork Health Link Bus over the past few years.

Names on Ribbons

“We have set the tree up in November for the past few years and from then on people began to add ribbons with the names of their loved ones on them,” said organising group member, Rosaleen Wall.

“Both deceased and sick family members and friends have had ribbons attached to the tree by loved ones or well-wishers and they were all remembered in the celebration of the mass in January,” said Rosaleen.

Kerry Cancer Support Group

“Ribbons at €2 each were available up to the mass time in January. All the ‘ribbon money’ collected goes to the Kerry Cancer Support Group as we think it’s a very worthy charity.

“We choose the group and its Kerry/Cork Health Link Bus as it’s a charity close to our hearts and an absolutely wonderful service to have in Kerry for cancer patients.

“We place collection buckets around the place and on the mass day for people who wish to donate,” Rosaleen concluded.

Act of Altruism

This year’s Tree of Remembrance act of altruism at Nana Bea’s realised €1,045 for the charity and on the presentation of the cheque, Kerry Cancer Support Group representative, Breda Dyland thanked all involved in the initiative and those who donated and supported the fundraiser in any way.

Blessed and Lucky

“We are blessed and very lucky that we have people in communities like this thinking of us when fundraising ideas come up – this is a lovely, inclusive idea and it’s a credit to all involved,” said Ms. Dyland.

For information of the Kerry Cancer Support Group and its Kerry /Cork bus service. just click on the link here: http://www.kerrycancersupport.com/