Moore brothers raise €81k in memory of their mother
Two Moore teenagers have honoured their beloved mother's memory by raising an astonishing €81,150 for three charities.
Garbally College students Martin and Shane Glennon, who are just 17 and 15 respectively, announced the phenomenal final tally this week from their hugely successful fundraising campaign in tribute to their late mother, Cathy, who sadly died back in October from cancer after just a six-week illness.
The Irish Cancer Society, The Galway Hospice and Mayo/Roscommon Hospice are the beneficiaries of the huge fundraising effort which encompassed a Driving on for Cathy virtual tractor run before Christmas and GoFundMe page, along with an online auction on December 29.
The virtual tractor run saw people posting pictures of their tractors from vintage to large, from ride-ons to toy tractors on their Driving on for Cathy Facebook group page which provided a great source of both support and entertainment to those from near and far.
In addition to that, the young brothers organised an online auction with everything from turf to a bathroom suite to a lamb for the freezer going under the hammer, with the help of Denis A Barrett auctioneer. The 'Live from your Livingroom' online auction of 40 lots was a huge success bringing in over €18,000.
It was instinctive of Martin and Shane to organise a fundraiser to honour the memory of their mother, who was such a popular figure in the community and in GAA and soccer circles, and this week they paid tribute to everyone who supported them in any way.
Initially, the lads set out to raise €5,000 for charity but were quickly overwhelmed by the way the Driving on for Cathy campaign took off and by the generosity of all who supported them, not only from their own parish and neighbouring parishes but from all over the country and from abroad too.
“We never expected to raise this amount of money, we thought we might raise €5,000 but never anticipated €80,000! This money will help a lot of families through the services provided. We are incredibly grateful to everyone who supported the fundraiser, to those who donated money, to those who sponsored prizes or auction items, to those who bought items, posted pictures or supported us in any way.
“We would like to thank our family, friends, our community of Moore and surrounding parishes and mam's in Aughrim for getting involved. We would also like to give a special word of thanks to the members of our GAA club, Padraig Pearses for their support," the brothers said this week.
Above all, the boys attributed the success of their campaign to the support they received from their peers and fellow farming community.
"We'd like to thank them very much," they simply said, stressing that through this campaign they have not only raised money but they have raised awareness too of the hospice and their services especially among their own young friends.
Unfortunately, one in two people according to the Irish Cancer Society will get a cancer diagnosis, the brothers said poignantly.
CEO of Mayo Roscommon Hospice Martina Jennings hailed their strength to organise these events so soon after their mother's passing, and promised the pair that all of their share of the money will go towards palliative care services in both counties.
“This is an unbelievable sum of money to raise from one event for three charities, including ourselves. Martin and Shane showed great strength in organising this event so soon after the passing of their mum Cathy.
“What they have done by raising this total is ensure so many people get the same care that Cathy did within our palliative care service. 100% of the money raised by Driving on for Cathy will go directly to providing palliative care services in Mayo and Roscommon and we cannot thank Martin and Shane enough for what they’ve done.
“To organise such an event in ordinary times is difficult enough but doing so in a pandemic is truly remarkable. So we just want to say thank you from the bottom of our hearts.”