Philip Watt, CEO CFI, Jillian McNulty, cystic fibrosis campaigner and Willie O’Byrne, Managing Director, BWG Foods.
SPAR has announced that Cystic Fibrosis Ireland will be its new national charity partner for the next two years. SPAR has vowed to raise up to €300,000 during this time for Cystic Fibrosis Ireland through collection boxes in 400 SPAR stores nationwide, a donation on selected SPAR Own Brand products and a number of key events.
To mark this new partnership between one of Ireland’s largest convenience retailers and the charity, SPAR hosted a coffee morning in Residence on Dublin’s St Stephen’s Green on 27th June. The event was attended by well known CF campaigner Jillian McNulty. Jillian, who lives with cystic fibrosis had campaigned the HSE and the Government to fund the Orkambi drug, which is used to treat the underlying causes of the disease. In May 2017, Health Minister Simon Harris confirmed that Orkambi will be available to Irish patients.
Philip Watt, CEO Cystic Fibrosis Ireland said: “We would like to thank SPAR for choosing Cystic Fibrosis Ireland as their chosen charity. CF is a genetically inherited disease that primarily affects the lungs and the digestive system. Ireland has the highest incidence of cystic fibrosis in the world. Unfortunately there is no cure for cystic fibrosis, but medical and scientific research has greatly improved the treatment of this disease in recent years.”
According to Colin Donnelly, SPAR Sales Director “SPAR is proud to work with Cystic Fibrosis Ireland as our charity partner. We hope that our support will continue to help improve the quality of the lives of those living with cystic fibrosis in Ireland. Aside from our charity boxes in stores, we will also be making a regular donation from the sale of our SPAR Own brand products and be involved in a number of fundraising events to raise as much funds as possible for CFI.”
The funds raised by SPAR will be used to support independent living for those with cystic fibrosis. This includes providing support for the challenges faced by people with cystic fibrosis as they seek to live independent lives for the first time. They face many challenges in areas such as education, health, housing, employment and family support.
Cystic Fibrosis Ireland (CFI) is a voluntary organisation that was set up in 1963 to improve treatment and facilities for people with cystic fibrosis in Ireland. CFI seek to provide the best possible quality of life for people with cystic fibrosis by raising funds through fundraising and donations from the public.
