Tier 2 – Charities 2023

BUMBLEance is the most modern children’s ambulance service on the planet. It is the world’s first interactive ambulance purposefully designed for children, with the capacity to operate the latest medical equipment and inter hospital communication systems. Using the latest technology, BUMBLEance is an upgraded Mercedes Benz 519 unit with extras and we have worked hard to produce a state-of-the-art vehicle where, undoubtedly, safety is our first priority.

Cliona’s Foundation – The Foundation was set up by Brendan and Terry Ring, following the death of their daughter Cliona, from an inoperable brain tumour in 2006 aged 16. Over the years, as Cliona underwent numerous different hospital treatments, Brendan and Terry were struck by the number of families, facing enormous financial hardship, on the brink of financial free-fall, blindsided by non-medical expenses piling up. They saw at first-hand the enormous toll it took on these families, already struggling to cope with the nightmare of having a seriously ill child. They decided to take action and set up Cliona’s Foundation, in honour of their daughter, a charity that uniquely provides financial assistance to families with children who have life limiting conditions.

Inspired is a not-for-profit organisation. We provide a day service for adults with mild to low moderate intellectual disabilities who have completed post-primary or secondary school. There is no upper age limit or time limit for attending Inspired. The organisation was founded in 2014 by a group of parents who believed that people with intellectual disabilities should be an integral part of society, having equal rights to participate in education and employment. They set out to establish a service where self-advocacy and social inclusion were prioritised.

At Inspired we focus on individual ability, enabling participants to achieve their full potential, by encouraging personal choices, interests, and advocacy. The service is focused on the delivery of continued learning and employment supports for each individual participant. We are committed to providing exceptional person-centred support.

SouthWest Counselling Centre was established in 1994 to provide affordable counselling to the people of County Kerry. SouthWest Counselling Centre offers a range of therapeutic services: one-to-one counselling for children, adolescents and adults, couples counselling, parenting support, workshops for schools, Youthreach centres and training centres, a critical incident response service. SouthWest Counselling Centre also provides free unplanned pregnancy and post abortion counselling.

National Breast Cancer – Breast Cancer is most common cancer among women in Ireland (excluding skin cancers). Currently, 1 in 7 Irish women will be diagnosed with breast cancer before 75 years of age and there are 3,507 cases diagnosed annually which is set to continue to increase. These women are our mothers, daughters, sisters, grandmothers, friends and neighbours. We know these women, they play major roles in our lives.

The National Breast Cancer Research Institute is a national charity that funds a comprehensive research programme at the University of Galway and relies on charitable donations like that of Ring of Kerry Charity Cycle 2023 to ensure this programme is continually developed. We know that breast cancer research has improved the diagnosis, treatment options, and outcomes for those who develop the disease. We want to fund these research programmes to continue to impact the outcomes for those who develop the disease in the future.

Killarney Water Rescue is an entirely Voluntary based Service and operates 24/7, 365 days a year. We provide a search, rescue and recovery service for those in trouble or lost in the lakes, sea or rivers.

We travel anywhere in Ireland when requested to assist with ongoing searches. We support other services such as Kerry Mountain Rescue, Irish Underwater Search and Recovery Group, National Parks and Wildlife Services, and Coast Guard.

We are also a declared resource of Kerry County Council and An Garda Síochána. Killarney Water Rescue is a Registered Charity and relies solely on the time and energy of the volunteers to achieve our objectives.

Recovery Haven Kerry Cancer Support House – A registered charity that provides free support services to those affected by cancer, their families and carers in the Kerry, North Cork, and West Kerry areas. The support and services provided include counselling, play therapy, phone support, complementary therapies, survivorship programmes, support groups, wellbeing classes and courses. Services are delivered by a small staff team, contracted professional counsellors, volunteer therapists and over 70 volunteers in the areas of listening, gardening and fundraising.

Recovery Haven Kerry is recognised as a leader within the Cancer Support Services sector, and this was reaffirmed in 2021 when the centre became one of just 10 cancer support centres in Ireland to meet the National Cancer Control Programme’s (NCCP) Good Practice Guidelines for Cancer Support Centres.