FLAME Superheroes bake for Mercy Hospital's Young Heroes and Paediatric Oncology Outreach Nursing Service

2 Nov 2022

Congratulations to the Superheroes in the FLAME lab, Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience led by Batman (Michael Cronin) who baked cakes and put on their Superhero outfits to raise funds for the Mercy Hospital Heroes Campaign which raises vital funds for the Mercy Kids & Teens Appeal.

 The FLAME Lab Superheroes: Batman (Mike Cronin), The Flash (Max Shanahan), Captain America (Wayne Sheehan), Superwoman (Aisling Noone), Super bakers Sue Grenham, Muthaira Lone and Mawadda Mohamed (absent), Superwoman (Ruth Kelleher) and front Robin (Conor O'Mahony) fundraising for the Mercy University Hospital Foundation. Photo B.Riedewald 

 Funds raised through “Mercy Heroes” will go towards the Mercy Kids & Teens Appeal and will support services like the Paediatric Oncology Outreach Nursing Service 'POONS'. This service, the only one of its kind in Ireland, allows children with cancer to receive vital treatment in the comfort of their own home, helping to cut back on hospital visits and provide support to families during such a difficult time. 

Superwoman (Ruth Kelleher) and Captain America (Wayne Sheehan) reaching high for the Mercy Hospital Foundation. Photo Darragh Kane

POONS (Paediatric Oncology Outreach Nursing Service) has provided immeasurable support for some of Cork’s youngest patients and their families over the last number of years with 45 families using the service in 2021 alone. One such family is that of Noah O’Gorman from Whitegate who was diagnosed almost 12 months ago, on his second birthday. Noah is currently receiving treatment for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL) at the Mercy Hospital. 

Robin (Conor O'Mahony) and Batman (Mike Cronin) in action at the bake sale in WGB. Photo Darragh Kane

Speaking about their experience, Noah’s dad, Tristan O’Gorman, said “For boys, the treatment cycle is quite long, and Noah’s treatment doesn't finish until February 2025. Having POONS drastically cuts down on the amount of travel in and out to hospital.  As Noah is so young, he is more comfortable getting treated at home and it cuts down on the risk of exposure to more infections in the hospital. For Noah’s mum, Deirdre, and me, getting treatment in the community like this helps their family life continue as normally as possible.  

Captain America (Wayne Sheehan) Superwoman (Aisling Noone) and Mr Incredible (Aonghus Lavelle) collecting in the Western Gateway Building for the Mercy Hospital Foundation. Photo Darragh Kane

 Noah is a big fan of Peg and Olga, the POONS nurses! They try to normalise the treatment so that Noah isn't affected by it and he can just get on with the business of being a busy two-year-old boy. Speaking about the importance of POONS, Olga Buckley, Paediatric Oncology/ Haematology CNS at The Mercy said “Being able to deliver a home-based option to sick children has helped enhance their quality of life and allowed for some normalisation of family life during cancer treatment. Since Covid hit, it has become absolutely necessary as our young cancer patients are considered within the critically vulnerable group as their treatment, including chemotherapy, causes immunosuppression. Photo Darragh Kane

 POONS helps to cut back on the amount of time patients need to spend in the hospital and gives them the opportunity to receive their treatment at home. In 2021, the Mercy POONS nurses travelled 23,654 kilometers to provide an incredible 550 home visits to families. It costs the Mercy Hospital Foundation €30,000 each year to continue to keep this service mobile. Photo Darragh Kane

 Paschal McCarthy, CEO of the Mercy University Hospital Foundation emphasised how support for campaigns like Mercy Heroes can make such a difference in people’s lives. “For the past nine years, the Mercy Hospital Foundation has proudly provided funding for POONS. We are continually reminded of the impact this service has on families, and why it is essential that we continue to fund and support these very special children and their families. This October, anyone can become a “Mercy Hero”, and any donation, big or small, will help make a huge difference.” 

FLAME Superwomen Aisling Noone and Ruth Kelleher. Photo Darragh Kane

Mike Cronin (Batman) UCC FLAME lab Super Hero cake sale organiser pictured with Ms Deirdre Finn, Head of Fundraising Mercy University Hospital Foundation. (Photo B. Riedewald)

Mike Cronin the organiser of this event is a Senior Technical Officer in the Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience FLAME laboratory Mike said that he was delighted with the huge support that the event has received. The FLAME lab staff baked an impressive selection of cakes and with great enthusiasm dressed in Superhero costumes. The entire event made a very impactful sight in the Western Gateway Building foyer, and the selection of cakes and colourful outfits was only surpassed by the generosity of the visitors who supported the cake sale. Mike commented that the generosity of the visitors to the cake sale was unprecedented, and when the cash buckets and scan code were totalled an amazing €1259 was collected by the FLAME Superheroes at the cake sale on Friday October 21st 2022. 

The Mercy Heroes thanked the organisers for organising such a great event and for raising much needed funds. Have a look at the below video to meet with some of the Mercy Hospital's Extraordinary Superheroes.

Meet some REAL Mercy Hospital Heroes 2022 in their video, Noah, Denis, Alannah, Calvin and Darragh, and see where the raised funds will go! The POONS (Paediatric Oncology Outreach Nursing Service) has provided immeasurable support for some of Cork’s youngest patients and their families over the last number of years with 45 families using the service in 2021 alone.

 Will you also be a MERCY HERO?

DONATE HERE NOW! 

The Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience FLAME lab Superheroes online fundraising account is still open until 21st November 2022. 

THANK YOU! A big thank you to all who helped on the day: Thank you to all who supported the event and donated so generously, to Kylemore Catering who kindly supplied and sponsored the tea and coffee for the event. Thank you to the Western Gateway Security staff, and to the FLAME lab staff and friends who baked the wonderful selection of goodies, and of course to the Superheroes who dressed for the occasion.

For further details about the Mercy Hospital Foundation contact:

Deirdre Finn, Head of Fundraising, Mercy University Hospital Foundation, 4 Washington St West, Cork, Ireland T12 CVH2

Email: deirdre@mercyhospitalfoundation.ie Website:  www.mercyhospitalfoundation.ie

News item: Bereniece Riedewald

Photographs: Darragh Kane, B. Riedewald