Woman on a mission to make Christmas merry in Midleton following devastating flood damage

EVEN though Sam Lancashire is a Liverpudlian; she calls Midleton her town.

“I’m in Cork 24 years since December 2. I lived in Cobh for a while before I adopted east Cork as my home.”

Sam is self-employed, a fully qualified trainer, mindset coach, and mentor whose company creates light bulb moments. This Christmas Sam wants to put a smile on the young and elderly residents of Midleton as the community is coming to terms with the chaos and devastation that Storm Babet wreaked which brought a months’ worth of rainfall to Midleton in just one day, leaving many buildings flooded and roads blocked.

How does Sam, recovering at home from a broken femur, plan to light up people’s lives this Christmas?

“I’ve become an expert hopper,” says Sam laughing.

She’s becoming an expert in helping others out. She’s not dragging her feet.

“I remember the scenes of devastation in my town’s main street on the Thursday, October 19, after the floods hit,” says Sam who is married to Vernon.

“The clean up operation had begun and as I headed into town to drop off some clothes and small donations for distribution to the Midleton Hub, I was struck by the number of children and elderly impacted by the floods.”

Sam, like so many people around the country, felt in her heart for those affected. She realised the enormity of what home-owners and businesses were facing doing their best to bounce back.

“I realised Christmas was not that far away and I knew that this devastating event meant that Christmas is extra difficult for many this year,” says Sam.

“Over 100 businesses on and adjacent to the main street were flooded. Our local community and hospital and residential health facility had to be evacuated. Pre-schools in the town were flooded and children and their carers were trapped inside. An 80-year-old lady almost drowned in her own home.”

The woman’s house was submerged in four feet of water and eight feet of water surrounded her home outside. Local firefighters swam to her door to help her escape, but the woman was afraid to let go of her walker, she was brought upstairs where she could dry off while waiting for the army to arrive with a boat three hours later. The firefighters got her to safety.

“Imagine all those years, living in her house and she couldn’t salvage many things that were dear to her. It is sad.”

The young and the old have to try to pick up the pieces after the floods.

“There are six primary schools in Midleton townlands, all children live locally. Many families work in the town within businesses that are currently closed as they try and rebuild their business again. These families may be out of work for some time.”

With this in mind Sam is reaching out to her network and her friends for help.

Charity begins at home.

“My aim is to provide 100 children with a gift and 50 of our elderly with a care package to the value of €20.”

This should add to the Christmas cheer.

“Hopefully, it is something that will put the smile back on their faces after such a trying time,” says Sam.

PLAN

What’s her plan?

“Once I have an indication and funds raised, I’ll connect with our community leaders to find those who need help most and negotiate with Irish businesses to get the possible value for the donations pledged. That means I may be able to help more than my target.”

Midleton’s world was turned upside down.

“I know the world is a little crazy right now and I thought long and hard about asking for donations.

“Having seen the town I’ve called home for 17 years brought to its knees once again, I have to try and do something that will compliment the already amazing clean-ups efforts taking place.”

Sam says no donation is too small and she is showing the way to light up people’s lives: “Vernon and I dropped in Aldi vouchers for families who may have dietary requirements and they can get products to suit. I was thinking of practical things to drop to The Hub, and we had some old kitchen appliances that might come in handy. And of course, clothes are always welcome.”

Sam says people’s resilience has been affected.

“Chatting to co-ordinators, they say the clean-up and recovery for the town will be a long road. I’m not a counsellor but I am happy to donate and offer mindset coaching for free.

“The event has affected people’s mindset and their resilience. Facing the trauma is a challenge and when things calm down people can take steps to move forward.”

The troops are rowing in to help the people of Midleton who have been through the mill.

“According to Bunny, who helps co-ordinate distributing donations from The Hub, there is a lot going on,” says Sam.

“There are so many efforts; people are fatigued. I thought about what I could do.”

She got a light bulb moment.

“Looking out for the kids and families as well as the businesses that were impacted by the floods was the catalyst to try and do something to help them out,” says Sam.

How is her generous campaign going?

“It’s going really well,” says Sam.

“Two days after I put up the appeal on social media, money started coming in. €1,600 was organically raised online. I say to my friends if they’re not in, ‘I didn’t see you donate. Shame on you.’ My goal is to raise €3,000 and I’m more than half-way there already. I’d like to get the elderly residents a decent present like nice hand cream and include some nice Christmas cakes in the hampers that the Meals on Wheels distribute.”

Sam has a smile on her face and will be well looked after this Christmas.

“I won’t be cooking Christmas dinner if I’m not back on my feet. Vernon will.”

He’ll feed their dog, Deefor as well.

“That’s very important,” says Sam laughing.

Sam had a rod and two plates inserted into her femur after she spent time in rehabilitation.

She didn’t spend her time off work idly. She decided to help ‘her town’ out.

“I really wanted to put a smile back on people’s faces,” she says.

And she’s doing a good job. Midleton will be merry and bright this festive season.

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