17.02.2020
Making a Difference – Charities Receive €45k from Black Santa in Dublin
Dublin’s Black Santa continued to spread joy on a stormy Sunday in February as the proceeds of the bumper 2019 appeal were handed over to charity. Representatives of 15 charities were at the annual Black Santa Service in St Ann’s Church, Dawson Street, on Sunday morning (February 16) when the cheques from the 2019 appeal were given out.
A record €45,000 was donated to the 2019 Black Santa Appeal. The Vicar of St Ann’s, Canon David Gillespie, and his assistant Fred Deane, backed by a team of parish volunteers, collected their largest ever amount outside the church in the days before Christmas.
The speaker at this year’s service was Jane McKenna, founder of LauraLynn Children’s Hospice. On the weekend that Storm Dennis was blowing across Ireland, Jane spoke movingly of the worst storms that came to her and her husband Brendan when they lost their daughters Laura and Lynn within two years of each other. Laura was born with a heart condition and was undergoing treatment in hospital when Lynn who had been feeling a bit unwell was admitted for investigation. She was diagnosed with Leukaemia. Laura died the next day. Lynn went through her treatment and was in remission for five months before she relapsed. At the age of 15 they were told that there was nothing more that could be done for Lynn.
“Lynn was determined to live the life she had left. She lived for three weeks and for two weeks she was amazing. I don’t know how she had the courage or energy. In her last week her body began to wind down as we knew it would. She wrote her letters. One of her last wishes was to die peacefully at home,” her mother recalled.
Jane spoke of trying to continue their lives without their girls and wondering what would have happened if Lynn hadn’t been able to die at home. “The hospital was great but she wouldn’t have wanted to die there,” she commented. In 2001 she and Brendan started looking into children’s hospices which provided a home from home for children with very complex illnesses. “No one ever wants their children to be sick or to die before them but it does happen. And after a long journey and the help of thousands of people the LauraLynn Hospice opened in 2011. I always wish that we didn’t need it but we do. It’s so important at the end to have these memories. I am astounded by the kindness and generosity of all those who have helped us and thank you to St Ann’s. It’s wonderful what you do for charities,” she said.
Speaking after the service Canon Gillespie thanked all the charities for the work they do and all in St Ann’s who help out with the appeal, in particular the ever enthusiastic Fred Deane. “To raise €45,000 in the week before Christmas is no mean feat and in this church we should be very proud of that,” he commented.
Speaking on behalf of the charities, David Webb of Protestant Aid thanked St Ann’s for their amazing generosity. “Your efforts make a real difference to people’s lives,” he commented.
The charities who benefited this year were: The Solas Project, Protestant Aid, Diocesan Refugee Project, Alice Leahy Trust, St Vincent de Paul, Peter McVerry Trust, Focus Ireland, the Samaritans, Discovery Gospel Choir, Jack and Jill Foundation, LauraLynn Foundation, Here2Help, PACT, Dublin Street Pastors and Brabazon Trust.