CHARITY 01

Cancer Fund for Children.

Artist impression of Daisy Lodge, Co. Mayo Ireland.

Cancer Fund for Children provides support to children diagnosed with cancer and their families by offering vital therapeutic short breaks at Daisy Lodge, Co. Down. Daisy Lodge is a nurturing and restorative space that is purpose-built to support families at the most vulnerable, difficult, and exhausting time in their lives.

These families have spent months in hospital or attended endless stressful clinic appointments and not forgetting the months as an inpatient that can bring a family to breaking point. The charity creates safe spaces for families to rebuild their confidence, and their hope for the future by providing a sense of comfort and wellbeing.

We have been providing short breaks to families struggling to cope with a childhood cancer diagnosis in Daisy Lodge for over five years. It is our vision to build and open a second short break therapeutic centre for children with cancer and their families.

However, for every family we can support, there are six more we cannot help due to the demand for our service.

Therefore, we are building a much needed second Daisy Lodge therapeutic centre, in Co Mayo, Ireland.  With the wonderful support from the Rory Foundation (Rory McIlory) Cancer Fund for Children have purchased a magnificent site in Co. Mayo, to build Daisy Lodge, and they have full planning permission and completed the design stage. Cancer Fund for Children Ireland need your support to help build this magical, tranquil centre, where children with cancer and their families can spend valuable quality time together as a family.

To find out more visit www.cancerfundforchildren.ie or belinda@cancerfundforchildren.ie

All proceeds will go towards Cancer Fund for Children’s Capital Appeal to build Daisy Lodge therapeutic Centre in Co. Mayo Ireland

CHARITY 02

City in the Community.

City in the Community is Manchester City’s Official Foundation.

Since its creation in 1986, the charity has worked tirelessly to build a healthier Manchester by creating opportunities for local people to fulfil their potential. Based at the Etihad, the team deliver socially inclusive football-led community programmes that create health and education benefits for people in Greater Manchester. Reaching 40,000 people each season, CITC proudly offers eighteen different projects for participants aged from just two to 85.

50% of Jamie’s incredible fundraising will support City in the Community and will help to improve the lives of thousands of local people. All proceeds will support City in the Community’s new mental health project, City Thrive.

City Thrive harnesses the power of football to help provide support for thousands of people aged 14 to 25. A dedicated team has developed a new mental health curriculum, blending specially adapted football sessions with one-to-one mentoring and group workshops on mental health awareness, to improve mental wellbeing.  Additionally, specific mental health themed football sessions will be delivered from youth clubs across Manchester, enabling participants to enjoy physical activity whilst also accessing the benefits of one-to-one mentoring and group workshops.

City Thrive was developed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, as the long-term impact on children’s mental health was highlighted as a major concern amongst carers and parents.

As a Coach at Manchester City, Jamie knows how important mental health support is for young people. Commenting on CITC’s initiative, he said: “It has never been so difficult to be a child or young person. I see the challenges teenagers face on a daily basis through my work in Academy football. The pandemic has forced young people to spend more time at home than ever, while their dreams and aspirations have been put on hold. This initiative is yet another example of the great work CITC do for the young people in Manchester”.

Head of CITC, Mike Geary, added: “We are blown away by Jamie’s challenge and truly humbled that he has chosen City in the Community as a beneficiary. The Foundation is proud to have a strong relationship with the Manchester City staff, but Jamie’s fundraiser goes above and beyond any support we have seen before. We are committed to supporting him on what will be long, tough journey, and cannot thank him enough for helping us to support young people in Manchester.”

For more information about City in the Community’s work, visit www.mancity.com/community.