Barretstown is a children’s charity in County Kildare that offers free, specially designed therapeutic programmes for children and their families living with a serious illness.
They have just launched their Christmas appeal to the Irish public, ‘Sprinkle a little magic,’ which tells the story of 9-year-old Darragh Nolan, from Cork, and his battle with leukaemia.
Barretstown is a children’s charity in County Kildare that offers free, specially designed therapeutic programmes for children and their families living with a serious illness.
They have just launched their Christmas appeal to the Irish public, ‘Sprinkle a little magic,’ which tells the story of 9-year-old Darragh Nolan, from Cork, and his battle with leukaemia.
Speaking about his experience, Darragh’s Dad Karl said: 
“Darragh was diagnosed with leukaemia in 2019. In the run up to that Christmas in 2019, he spent more time in their local hospital – the Mercy in Cork – than at home. The cancer and treatments had taken such a toll on him. Both physically and emotionally. He’d lost his hair, an incredible amount of weight, and life had become about medications, injections and feeding tubes. And infection, after infection, after infection. It was then that Barretstown stepped in with an invitation. Cancer is cruel, it steals so much of the joy and magic of childhood. But Barretstown gives it back. It gives children, like our Darragh, their confidence back - helping them smile again. Helping them go on.”
When a child is seriously ill, their life becomes about everything they can’t do anymore, and they can stop feeling like a regular child. Barretstown empowers and encourages each child to step out of their comfort zone and re-build their confidence through their medically endorsed therapeutic camps and programmes. They start to discover the magic of being a child again.
Speaking about their Christmas Appeal, Dee Ahearn, CEO of Barretstown, said:
“After another tough year, we will all be looking forward to some quality time this Christmas. These difficult times, make us all cherish the true importance of family and good health. As we reopened our gates in June to serve children and their families, we were blown away by the support from the Irish people. Covid-19 has not made it easy. The many extra precautions, and safeguards needed, as well as implementing all of our Covid 19 protocols with associated costs has been difficult. This Christmas, the majority of families that we serve will be shielding away from extended family and friends due to the child’s serious health condition. At Barretstown we see that family really does mean so much, particularly at Christmas time. This year we are asking the Irish public to visit http://www.Barretstown.org to donate to support Barretstown in any way they can.”
Barretstown reopened its doors in June and has since welcomed hundreds of children and their families back to Barretstown. The Covid-19 crisis, however, has meant the charity had to cancel many of its key fundraising events again in 2021. These events provide crucial income for Barretstown which relies on the public to provide 97% of the funds that make their work possible. As a result, Barretstown has an income shortfall of €1.5 million since Covid began, and a fundraising target of €5.8 million for 2021. That's why this Christmas Barretstown are asking you to sprinkle a little magic through donations.
To help more children like Darragh and his family, sprinkle a little magic by donating to Barretstown. Members of the public can support Barretstown by visiting: www.Barretstown.org
