Hotelier and patron of the Cappagh Hospital Foundation asks the public to ‘Raise a Cuppa for Cappagh’ this October. Having spent significant time at the National Orthopaedic Hospital Cappagh (NOHC) as a child, Francis is calling on businesses, community groups and individuals to host a coffee morning or make a donation towards the Foundation in October. Cappagh Hospital Foundation (CHF) is the hospitals charity, raising funds to support hospital development and research, purchase medical equipment and improve patient care at the hospital since 1988. As a boy, Francis spent months at the National Orthopaedic Hospital Cappagh between the ages of eight and twelve, undergoing many operations for a condition called club foot. Francis recalled, ‘As a child staying in hospital for months at a time, it can be very lonely but the staff at the hospital became like a family to me’. ‘The hospital staff from consultants and nurses to cleaners and catering staff were so good to me over the years. The care I received was life-changing and I am proud to give back’ At the launch of the Cuppa for Cappagh fundraiser, Francis was joined by current NOHC patient Elzbieta (Ela) Mrowca 51, from County Meath who was treated for a rare bone cancer in 2022 at the NOHC, requiring her left leg to be amputated above the knee. Ela recalls, ‘It was very emotional for me to get that news, but I was very lucky because the cancer hadn’t spread’ Ela received a new prosthetic leg from Ottobock in 2023 and had the support of her occupational therapist Martina Carolan and intensive physiotherapy with Denise Church to learn to walk again. Just months later, she was back to work, back driving and back exercising. Ela is looking forward to getting back to cycling and skiing in the near future. Ela, attends for regular check-ups to detect for any changes and encourages everyone to talk to their GP if they are worried about any unusual symptoms like swelling, lumps, pain or reduced mobility. Ela remains very positive and thankful to the staff at the NOHC as she shared ‘Sometimes people ask, “Oh my God what happened to you?” and I just say, “I lost my leg but that’s it, nothing else. It hasn’t changed me. I’m still me”
Sporting legends Pat Spillane, Dave Kilcoyne, Cora Staunton and Shay Given joined renowned broadcaster Darragh Maloney to help raise over €100,000 for Cappagh Hospital Foundation at the CHF Annual Sports Lunch. This year’s event at The Intercontinental Hotel welcomed over 400 guests for an entertaining sports panel discussion, charity auction, and raffle. Guest MC and Auctioneer Sophie Colgan of the Lydia Fenet Agency of Charity Auctioneers in NYC played a pivotal role in ensuring the event’s success, guiding proceedings, engaging the audience, and encouraging enthusiastic auction bidding and raffle sales. Speaking at the event, 74-year-old John Purcell from Ashbourne, Co Meath described the life-changing impact of the surgery he received at NOHC. John, who was born with a rare genetic condition, Trismus-pseudo camptodactyly syndrome, causing a claw deformity of both hands, was moved to tears describing how the operation had changed his life, giving him ‘new hands’. Thanks to the pioneering surgery by NOHC Consultant Orthopaedic surgeon Ms Grainne Colgan, John can now shave, shake hands and high-five his grandchildren. This life-transforming surgery was the first ever undertaken anywhere in the world. ‘‘As a leader in orthopaedic medicine, demand for the Hospital’s services is continuing to grow” said Angela Lee, CEO of NOHC. “Research, training and education are paramount to upholding world-class outcomes for our patients. We are very grateful to the CHF and its supporters who have contributed so much to the Hospital over the years. Their support provided funding for research and for essential equipment, which has greatly enhanced the Hospital’s surgical and diagnostic capabilities, leading to better outcomes for our patients”. Commenting on this year’s Sports Lunch fundraiser, Annmarie Sweeney, Executive Director of Cappagh Hospital Foundation, ‘On behalf of our chair Sean O Neill and voluntary board, we are so grateful to our panel of sporting legends, broadcaster Darragh Maloney, and our generous sponsors Mortar & More, Sensori and UPMC, contributors and guests for making this year’s lunch a huge success. The NOHC will use all funds raised through the lunch to continue to improve the lives of more patients like John Purcell’ The Sports Lunch event which was originally created and nurtured by Professor Stephen Eustace, NOHC, since 2011, has evolved into a significant fundraising event for the Foundation each year. Board member and Head of the Organising Committee Dr. Niamh Long, Consultant Radiologist at the NOHC took on the role with enthusiasm and dedication. It is hoped that the Annual Sports Lunch is poised to reach new heights, continuing to play a vital role in supporting the Foundation’s funding ambitions.
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