Athlone Rotary Club launches Annual Tree of Remembrance
The Rotary Club of Athlone has launched its annual Christmas fundraising campaign – The Tree of Remembrance.
This year all funds raised will go to two incredible charities – The Midlands Simon Community and The Order of Malta Ireland.
Members of the public are invited to write a name or a simple message on a ribbon which is then put on the Tree of Remembrance outside Athlone Civic Centre.
Over seven days, from Friday December 17 up to Christmas Eve, the Tree of Remembrance will be decked with more and more coloured ribbons, creating a visual reminder of loved ones at Christmas.
A special Ecumenical Service with carols to remember those family and friends, who will not be with us this Christmas, will be held beside the tree at 2pm on Christmas Eve. All are welcome to attend (subject to Government Covid guidelines)
Organisers are offering a number of ways in which to support these worthy charities.
· You can visit the Rotary Club of Athlone Go Fund Me Page and make a donation online.
· Download the Tree of Remembrance App, write your message and it will be transferred onto a ribbon.
· Make a donation at the collections points and write your message on a yellow ribbon to remember family and friends, who will not be with us this Christmas
Collection points and Yellow ribbons will also be available from December 17 at; Athlone Towncentre, Golden Island, Dunnes Irishtown, Supervalu Monksland, Supervalu, Ballymahon Road and Kilmartins N6 .
The tree provides a wonderful opportunity for people to remember loved ones (both living and those who have passed away) in the middle of the Christmas rush; while supporting these amazing charities. For the people of Athlone and visitors alike, it is a lovely way of showing that loved ones are not forgotten.
“The support for the Tree of Remembrance has been overwhelming for the past number of years,” said Des Campbell, President of the Rotary Club of Athlone.
“Despite these hard and testing times, people have been very generous in supporting the local charities and it has been a privilege to witness so many people remembering their loved ones at Christmas”.
The tree offers a moment of reflection and a time to remember loved ones in a simple and special way. People are asked to donate only what they can afford.
Athlone Rotary Club would like to thank the council for their support in relation to the Christmas Tree at the Civic Centre, all the businesses and all the Rotary and charity volunteers for their tremendous support in this wonderful fundraising campaign.