Pictures: Mercy Star Awards honour hospital staff and fundraising heroes

THE Mercy Stars Awards, organised by the Mercy University Hospital Foundation, took place recently at the Rochestown Park Hotel.

The awards were a celebration of the staff behind the hospital’s care for patients and their families, as well as the fundraising volunteers.

Grace O’Callaghan from Dungarvan was named Hero of the Year for raising over €15,000 for the Mercy Cancer Appeal, while caring for her son, Luke, as he attended the hospital for cancer treatment.

The award for Star Event Organiser went to the Brown family from Ballincollig, who raised money in honour of their son and brother, Ian, who had fundraised himself while suffering from cancer, before passing away in January 2021.

The Challenge Event Star went to Noel and Coeurena Kelleher from Ballincollig for their Pedal for POONS fundraiser, a 12-hour cycling challenge which raised €105,000.

The Civil Service Star went to Cork City Fire Brigade, while Joey O’Connell from Trinity Marketing was named Star Door-to-door Fundraiser, St Colman’s College Fermoy was awarded the School Fundraiser Star, and the Corporate Partnership Star went to Kieran Coughlan of Lyonshall.

Kim Clifford from Ballincollig, who has co-ordinated street collections involving schools, shopping centres and community groups, won the Volunteer Star Award, while the Star Church Gate Collector was Úna Bresnan from Ballinlough, who organised three collections totalling €1,153 this year alone.

Ernest and Rachel Horgan from Blackrock received the Special Recognition Star for their immense amounts of time and energy fundraising for the Mercy Hospital in honour of their son Jimmy.

This year’s Hospital Hero recipients were Colin Curran, Phil Aldridge, Evan Cashman, James Taylor, Michael Murray, Jimmy McCarthy, and Jason O’Sullivan.

Hospital Award winners were: Dieticians, Emergency Department, Catering Team, and Noonan’s Bidvest, with ICT manager Peter O’Callaghan winning the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Interim CEO and head of fundraising at the Mercy Deirdre Finn said: “Mercy Stars is a special event — it honours the tireless, dedicated work of the staff of the hospital, who so expertly and lovingly look after patients.

“It also gives us an opportunity to thank our amazing fundraisers whose generosity of spirit helps us to achieve our goals in the Foundation.”