A heartwarming fundraiser brought joy to families in Cork city as thousands of coins were meticulously lined around the Lough, all in support of sick children.
Enthusiastic participants flocked to the Lough, eager to contribute to the ‘Lap the Lough’ initiative and raise crucial funds for the Cork City Hospitals’ Children’s Club.
This remarkable charity dedicates itself to creating magical experiences for young patients, from unforgettable trips to Disneyland Paris to cherished Santa visits during the Christmas season.
Ahead of this unique charity event, people were encouraged to raid their piggy banks, and the generous community of Cork responded overwhelmingly to the call to line the entire Lough with coins.
The event not only achieved a complete circle of coins but also saw sections with two and even three layers, a testament to the incredible support from those who attended. The fundraiser was orchestrated by a dedicated team including former lord mayor Mick Finn, entrepreneur Ernest Cantillon, singer-songwriter Pat Fitzgibbon, chairperson of Cork City Hospitals’ Children’s Club John Looney, and Eimear McCarthy and Emer O’Mahony.
John Looney expressed his delight to the , stating how thrilled he was with the massive turnout and support for the charity.
“It was phenomenal. It was 10 times more than what we ever expected it to be,” he exclaimed.
“We started ourselves at about 10am, laying the money that people donated online, so we had nearly €7,500 before we started this morning. We got about three-quarters of the way around the Lough, and then the public took over when they came.”
“They came in throngs and droves. The amount of money they brought was just unbelievable, and they finished off the circle.”
Mr. Looney extended his sincere gratitude to all those who contributed to the event’s success, including volunteers from the Cork City Hospitals’ Children’s Club and The Lough Scouts, The Lough Credit Union, the gardaí who ensured safety on the day, face painters and entertainers, LuLus Café and Supervalu for their coin collections, The Hawthorn Bar for providing restroom facilities, and everyone else involved.
Organiser Ernest Cantillon hailed the event as “a big success,” estimating that up to a thousand people, including families and regular visitors to the Lough, participated and showed their support.
“We completed the lap much faster than we thought we would. People just came out of nowhere, and suddenly at 11.30am we were halfway around. At stages, we had double and triple layers of coins, so it was very satisfying, a great buzz,” he shared.
The coins will be meticulously counted over the next few days, and the final amount raised for the Cork City Hospitals’ Children’s Club will be revealed soon.
When questioned about future events following this initial triumph, Mr. Cantillon indicated that they would commence planning for the following year, while Mr. Looney expressed his aspiration for it to become an annual tradition and a primary fundraising initiative.
