Irish Examiner Christmas charity initiative showed us our readers have very big hearts

As part of our Christmas charity initiative we asked our readers to share with us who is the most giving person in their life.

Whether that was your mother, father, sister, brother, son, daughter, or not even a relation, any entrant to this competition was in with a chance of winning one of five €100 Christmas shopping vouchers for the person they nominated.

The responses were so inspiring we are sharing some of them here.

Sara Kerrigan, Co Dublin

My aunt Rita Conlon has helped raise me and is so self-sacrificing. She is a mother to me. I would not be where I am today without her. I would love to show her how much she means to me.

Mary Jordan, Co Waterford

Maura Connolly Youghal now in her golden years but caring for her very loved husband Michael aged 91. Maura lives with constant pain but always has time and tea for her many callers. A great neighbour and friend.

David Mulcahy, Cork

My life-long friend Marie Dillon is the most selfless, sacrificing person I know. Her mother was suffering from dementia & she visited her every day for 10 years spending five hours with her. She would walk or cycle seven miles to the Lee Road in floods, ice and snow. She never gave up, often sick herself, she would make that journey until last Saturday morning when her mum passed away.

Hester Beitzel, Co Cork

Mam gives when she’s running on empty.  Tea maker, ear lender, button mender, stray cat feeder. The one you can always ask for a favour. Keeper of secrets, believer of dreams, I can’t give back what she’s given to me.

Mary Buckley, Co Cork

Audrey O’Sullivan has two special needs sons aged seven and four and never complains about her lot. Her boys are non-verbal and with low muscle-tone which effects them in every-day life. Feeding, changing and dressing daily 24/7 and always smiling.

Congrats to the five people above who have won our Christmas competition.

You can read more of the entrants in the below Facebook post.