Santa's in flying form at CUH
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A Coast Guard member with Noah O'Dwyer who helped Santa unload the presents from the helicopter.Image 2 of 4
Santa, his lion helper, Seán Óg Ó hAilpín and Ciara Murphy.Image 3 of 4
Harry Bassel with Cork senior footballers Brian Hurley and Micheal Aodh Martin.Image 4 of 4
Santa and Millie Sophia Campion.A VIP touched down on CUH recently to say hello to all the little boys and girls in the paediatric ward.
Arriving by Coast Guard helicopter, the big man himself, Santa, delivered hundreds of presents to children, many of whom will spend the festive season under the care of hospital staff.
The huge toy drop was the result of a Kinsale & District Lions Club appeal, in partnership with CUH Charity, and is now in its fifth year.
And the man in red had plenty of support on the ground from emergency services, which travelled to the hospital in convoy from Bishopstown Garda Station.
Lions Club President, Cormac Fitzgerald, said: “The appeal started off quite small but is growing year on year, people like to give at Christmas and toys have been coming in from the public every day.
“There’s a great spirit of volunteerism in the club, we package up the toys and then the HSE, gardai, Cork City Fire Service, Civil Defence, Coast Guard and army escort them, with Santa, to CUH.
“It’s great for the kids and it’s designed to have an impact on those who will be in hospital over Christmas.”
Once delivered to CUH, healthcare workers sort through the hundreds of toys and match them up with children.
Claire Concannon of CUH Charity said: “As well as being a breathtaking spectacle, this event with Kinsale Lions Club brings true joy to children at the hospital.
“Staff are fully behind it and it’s a shining example of community solidarity. We are deeply thankful to the Lions Club and their supporters for making this an unforgettable experience for our young patients.”
The effort was bolstered by contracting firm MMD Construction, which donated a large consignment of toys, along with investment bankers JP Morgan and toys from this year’s RTÉ Late Late Toy Show set.
Kinsale & District Lions Club also delivers toys to other local organisations, schools and charities in Cork.