Dalata Hotel Group raises €363,000 for Marie Keating Foundation

Kenneth Fox

Dalata Hotel Group the largest hotel operator in Ireland has raised over €363,000 for the Marie Keating Foundation.

The fundraising effort is part of Dalata and the Marie Keating Foundation’s ‘Drive to Defeat Cancer’ campaign which is supporting the long-term future of the organisation’s lifesaving cancer outreach service.

The funds raised to date have contributed to the following:

-The purchase of two new mobile information units.

- Helping to fund five new specialist nurses, bringing the team to seven.

Every year in Ireland, an estimated 42,000 people are diagnosed with cancer, meaning one in two of us will be affected in our lifetime.

Dalata and the Marie Keating Foundation are partnering to raise awareness through fundraising initiatives in support of its community nursing and mobile information units and to help facilitate over 100,000 lifesaving conversations on spotting the early signs of cancer.

The mobile units, staffed by specialist nurses, offer free and accessible cancer education and support, ensuring that vital information reaches the heart of communities nationwide.

As part of the partnership, the mobile units visit Dalata hotels across Ireland throughout the year, with local communities invited to come along and gain life-saving knowledge about early cancer detection and prevention.

As part of the initiative, Dalata employees voted to support charities in the health and wellbeing space for the period of 2022 to 2025.

To ensure national-level impact, the Group has partnered with the Marie Keating Foundation in the Republic of Ireland, Leukaemia Care in Great Britain, and Air Ambulance NI in Northern Ireland.

Dermot Crowley, Dalata Hotel Group's chief executive said: "We are thrilled that the effort made by our people across our hotels and at Central office has resulted in such a substantial donation to the Marie Keating Foundation thus far.

"Every year, our team across the Group dedicate substantial time and energy to fundraising for our charity partners, and their enthusiasm never ceases to impress me.

"The Marie Keating Foundation is a remarkable organisation, and we are proud to support their vital work nationwide, encouraging life-saving conversations.”