Better Together Awards Creating Local Buzz
Submitted by paulmeade on 1 December 2011 - 12:14pm
The Better Together Awards, which take place at the Dublin Convention Centre this evening, have been garnering some positive local news stories over the last few days.
For instance, the Kilkenny People newspaper has reported on how local man and volunteer charity campaigner Eamon Cleere, has been nominated for the Better Together Chartiy Hero Award.
Described as a “man in a million”, for the past 25 years Mr Cleere has dedicated his spare time to fundraising for Enable Ireland Kilkenny on a voluntary basis and in that time has raised €1.5 million. He first became involved with The O’Neill Centre which provides day, therapy and family support services for children with disabilities, when his son Eamon Jr began using their services.
“It is a labour of love,” Mr Cleere said. “My wife Margaret and I could never see our son Eamon being able to walk after he was born, but all that changed when he discovered Enable Ireland Kilkenny. The centre has done brilliant work over the years for boys and girls from many families in the region. I decided that it was payback time so I devoted myself to fundraising for facilities at the centre.”
Meanwhile, the Galway Advertiser has highlighted the Charity Hero Award nomination received by local campaigner, Siobhan Carroll.
She has been nominated for “Ireland’s Charity Hero Award” on the night. Hosted by Mary Kennedy of RTÉ and with special guest Gavin Duffy of Dragon’s Den, the awards ceremony will see the Galway mother compete against nine other nominees for the outstanding award.
“I am so excited to be nominated for the award and win or lose, I am honoured to be considered a ‘charity hero’, she says.
Ms Carroll of Oranmore founded ACT for Meningitis this year together with her husband Noel Carroll in memory of their daughter Aoibhe who died of meningitis in 2008 aged four.
The family has been overwhelmed by the support and kindness of the public. With events planned for the rest of the year and major awareness campaigns being launched in 2012, the Carrolls and their team of volunteers say they are ready to “make a difference”.
You can find out more about the Better Together campaign, including the Charity Hero Award, here. Registration is still open for tonight's Better Together Awards (attendance is free. but registration is essential).
(sources: Kilkenny People & Galway Advertiser)
