Cooper becomes patron of Saoirse Foundation
Set up by Tony Heffernan, the charity supports a number of projects, including the BUMBLEance, a custom-built ambulance that offers some much needed comfort to very sick children, and Liam’s Lodge, a dedicated national children’s respite centre and hospice.
Mr Heffernan and his wife, Mary, from Keel, Co Kerry, have lost their two children, Saoirse and Liam, to the extremely rare Batten’s Disease.
Mr Cooper said he was deeply honoured to have been asked to assist in efforts to make life better for sick Irish children and their parents.
“Anyone who has met Tony will have been more than impressed by his compassion,’’ he said.
“He has been selfless in his work and anything that I can do to help him is a privilege.
“But far more important is what he is achieving, both in his plans for Liam’s Lodge and the BUMBLEance.”
Next month, the broadcaster will take part in a megapush to raise over €250,000 for the BUMBLEance project.
The megapush starts in Dingle town, on September 10, from where ice explorer and adventurer Mike O’Shea, Tony Heffernan and others will push and pull a vehicle over the notorious Conor Pass, a treacherous and windy mountain road before heading towards Dublin, a journey that will take ten days.
The team will arrive in St Stephen’s Green, on September 20, from where they will push the vehicle around a half-marathon course in Dublin city centre.
Volunteers and fundraisers, meanwhile, are welcome to join the team along the route.
A planning application for Liam’s Lodge, due to be built in Tralee, is currently before Kerry County Council.
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