We have some very good news to share regarding The Laura Hickey Fund. As you know, we initially set a fundraising target of €60,000. This was estimated to be the minimum amount needed to fund Laura’s trip to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre in New York to have her case and treatment plans reviewed. The Summer Ball on 27th June marked three months of intensive fundraising. We have been overwhelmed by the amazing response by the communities of Ashbourne and Ratoath. The Fund has also received incredible support from Laura’s friends and relations all over Ireland (especially Donegal!) and around the world. Laura gave a very moving speech at the Summer Ball about how much your support to her personally and of the Laura Hickey Fund means to her. She would like to be able to thank everyone individually but that would be an impossible task as literally hundreds of people have been, and continue to be, involved in the campaign.

Contributions to The Laura Hickey Fund have come through many different channels: personal contributions; corporate donations; sponsored events; cake sales; coffee mornings; school events; events organised by local children; and the Summer Ball, to name but a few. We have already announced details of funds raised through various events but we would now like to share with you the grand total as it currently stands.

The campaign for The Laura Hickey Fund has to date raised €170,000!

This is an incredible figure and far exceeds our original hopes and expectations. The Laura Hickey Fund is set up as a Trust and the funds will be used for Laura’s initial trip and her future medical needs.

Laura is in the process of planning her trip to Memorial Sloan Kettering and the Laura Hickey Fund Committee will continue to oversee the Trust. A number of fundraising events have already been planned to take place over the summer and autumn and details of those will be posted here. However, we are not planning any new events at the moment.

Laura, her fiancé Ronan, her parents and the Hickey family are indebted to the many, many individuals, schools and organisations who have given so generously of their time, money and talents to raise these funds for Laura’s medical needs. They would like to take this opportunity to extend their sincerest gratitude to everyone who has made a contribution to the campaign.

Laura quoted Abraham Lincoln during her speech at the Summer Ball: “The best part about the future is that it comes one day at a time”. We all wish Laura a healthy and happy future and going to Memorial Sloan Kettering is the first step towards that.

Thank you all so very, very much.

The Laura Hickey Fund Committee
August 2014