Julian Benson and Dermot Bannon seek volunteers for Room to Improve charity special

Dancing With the Star personality Julian Benson's foundation appeals for help on a 10-day building blitz for a Cystic Fibrosis 'home from home' led by Dermot Bannon

Julian Benson and Dermot Bannon at the Julian Benson Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Winter Wonderland Gala Ball at the Clayton Hotel, Burlington Road, Dublin. Picture: Brian McEvoy Photography

Building companies, services and trades are being asked to donate their time or money to an accommodation project being carried out by the Cystic Fibrosis foundation set up by Julian Benson. 

The former  Dancing with the Stars judge knows firsthand about the challenges of those living with the condition. Benson was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis when he was just two years old. 

When he was diagnosed, Benson says he was given a life expectancy of just 13 years of age. Since 2018, he has been raising funds for the purchase of the house that families of CF patients can call a "home away from home" during lengthy stays.

Now, the aim is to refurbish the Georgian house, located in Dublin's Rathgar, into four separate apartments so families of those being treated for Cystic Fibrosis can stay close by. The foundation, set up by Benson, plans to open 'Tranquility House' by the end of this summer.

For the 1200 people living with Cystic Fibrosis in Ireland, extended stays in hospital are common which means their support network often has to do a daily commute from all over the country, or face mounting hotel bills.

The build design will be led by Room to Improve star Dermot Bannon. 

Judges Barry Redmond,  Lorraine Barry ,and Julian Benson during the Switch Up Live show of RTE’s Dancing with the Stars in 2018. Picture: kobpix

More than a year ago, the mission of the foundation was announced at a star-studded fund-raising ball and celebrity architect Bannon confirmed that he had signed up for the project. That event, in December 2022, was hosted by Lorraine Keane with Dragons' Den star Gavin Duffy acting as auctioneer.

Now the charity is making a national appeal to all trades and services companies to commence the build. 

Already the project has companies on board including Murphy group, Chadwicks, Roadstone and NordDan. 

The call comes in the form of donating skills, time, materials and services over a 10-day building blitz that will also be filmed as part of a Room to Improve special, and joining them will be Peter Donegan, landscape architect. 

The foundation says the list of those needed include tilers, painters, sash window repair and renovation, metal fabricators, plumbers, carpenters, electricians, heating systems, facility management companies.

The current house in Rathgar has been standing for 100 years and the foundation hopes to see it stand for at least 100 more. 

But the main draw is to be part of a legacy that will make a huge difference to those living with Cystic Fibrosis and their families. A big ambition is also to develop a wheelchair accessible apartment in the house.

Those interested are being asked to come along to the open day at The Masonry Building, iconic Offices, 151 Thomas street, Dublin 8 on Friday February 23rd between 10 and 3.30pm.

See www.jbcff.com for more details.