Festive season diners can help 'Little Ones' Appeal

Restaurateur and Irish MasterChef judge Nick Munier has appealed to festive season diners to serve up a special donation to help terminally ill children.

He was in Cork yesterday to help The Jack & Jill Foundation founder, Jonathan Irwin, launch his annual Little Ones Appeal, which helps it provide intensive home nursing care and end-of-life care for children up to four years of age.

“During the Christmas festivities and with the season of goodwill, the little things can be forgotten about, but by supporting this campaign, and donating just €1, you will make a real difference to very sick children in your local area,” said Mr Munier.

Now in its seventh year, the campaign, which runs from November 1 to New Year’s Eve, encourages restaurants nationwide to help their diners make a voluntary €1 donation to their table’s bill at the end of a meal.

While the charge is added automatically by the restaurant, Mr Irwin stressed that it is a voluntary donation and can be removed if requested. 100% of the donation goes directly to providing the foundation’s service.

“It’s through the public donations from campaigns like this, that help us raise some of our much needed funds to allow us to provide home nursing care to very sick babies,” said Mr Irwin. “It’s hard to believe that just €1 can make such a difference to children and the families of sick children at this busy time of year. €

“€16 provides one hour home nursing care for one Jack & Jill baby.”

The campaign was launched at the River Lee Hotel, where hotel general manager Ruairi O’Connor said they are delighted to be involved.

Founded in 1997 by Mr Irwin and his wife, senator Mary Ann O’Brien, following the death of their son, Jack, the foundation has supported more than 1,700 babies and their families over the years.

It supports around 300 families in 26 counties with funding, home visits, advice, information, lobbying and bereavement support, and up to 64 hours of home nursing care per month at a cost of €1,024 per family.

It also provides end-of-life care of up to 80 hours per month at a cost of €1,280 to support parents who decide to take their child home to die.

- Restaurants that would like to sign up to the Little Ones Appeal can find the information on jackandjill.ie or by email to [e-mail] .