Children’s hospitals unite to appeal for SSIA cash

IRELAND’S four leading children’s hospitals joined forces yesterday to launch a nationwide appeal for a slice of the country’s SSIA windfall.

Barretstown, Our Lady’s Hospital For Children in Crumlin, Temple Street Children’s University Hospital and The National Children’s Hospital Tallaght called on the country’s 1.1 million SSIA holders to consider donating a percentage of their maturing accounts to The Little Star Fund.

The fund will help more than 250,000 seriously ill children.

Little Star Fund spokesperson Janet Dunphy said it was a one-off request.

“This is a unique opportunity for people in Ireland to demonstrate that the Celtic Tiger has not robbed them of their ability to give generously when asked. No gift is too small and any donation will go towards helping thousands of sick children and their families around the country.”

A 1% donation from an account holder with a €20,000 SSIA — the equivalent of €200 — will help send a child to camp for a day, she said.

A 1% donation from a €15,000 SSIA account would fund vitally needed cardiac equipment and €120 would buy a camp bed for a child’s room so a parent can stay in a hospital overnight.

Cork City’s Lord Mayor Deirdre Clune and RTÉ’s John Creedon helped launch the appeal in Cork yesterday,

“I think this is an excellent idea,” Ms Clune said.

“Irish people are subjected every day to a barrage of information about what they should spend their SSIA cash on but little yet has been said about using it to help others.

“Donating even a small amount of our windfall can assist the Little Star Fund raise money to help the seriously ill children in Ireland.”

Donations can be made via www.littlestarfund.ie, by visiting any AIB branch or post office, by telephone banking or by posting a cheque to PO Box 1048, Dublin 12.