Charity

Each year, Cannonball Ireland donates the net profit from the event to a children's charity. Since the first Cannonball Run in 2008, the event has raised nearly a half a million euro for various Children's Charities.

We are delighted that, for the second year, LauraLynn will be Cannonball Ireland charity.

Making the most of short and precious lives.

The Children's Sunshine Home in Dublin has been caring for chronically ill children and their families since the 1920s. In September 2011, Ireland’s first children's Hospice, LauraLynn House, was opened on the grounds of the sunshine home in Leopardstown. It is difficult to contemplate that such a facility is necessary but there are an estimated 1,500 children living in Ireland with life-limiting conditions. The hospice is, tragically, needed.

All eight beds in LauraLynn house are occupied and most of the family rooms are being used by newly referred families and families whose children are critically ill and require palliative care. It is a warm, supportive environment in which the whole family can relax and spend precious time in the hands of a team which knows and understands the needs of the sick child and those who love him or her.

The facility provides accommodation for families whose children have multiple out-patient appointments in the acute children's hospitals in the city but who live far away – Cork and Kerry for example.

LauraLynn House has a very special place within its walls, the Butterfly suite – a special place where a child can spend his or her final days in comfort and peace with their family.

It is hoped that LauraLynn will look after up to 300 families a year with respite support and home care to families in need.

LauraLynn House is truly a wonderful place, full of love and laughter. It provides a 'home away from home' for very sick children with family accommodation, two playgrounds and a music room. Laura Lynn House has not, to date, received government funding to build or run this wonderful place. It needs €1.5m to run it annually and to ensure its long term viability. Any donations made go directly to LauraLynn House. Any donation or support, no matter how small, can make a real difference to the lives of very sick children.

To find out more visit www.sunshinehome.ie or call LauraLynn House 01 2893151.

"Putting life into a Child's day not days into a child's life"