Since it was founded in 2001 the Fund has distributed over €400,000 to charitable causes, many of which are by their very nature confidential and cannot therefore be discussed in any great detail! Since 2002 the Fund has been actively engaged in raising money for good causes and happily giving it away! Fundraising ventures, included pony rides, clay-pigeon shoots, raffles, an annual auction, monster draws, “who am I?” competitions, open-days, dog agility and dog shows, archery demonstrations, kick-ball competitions, fun and fancy-dress nights, have all been used to encourage support. The highlight of the year is the annual auction. Over the years lots have included helicopter rides, holidays in Portugal and Ireland, lambs, farm feeds, electrical appliances, turf, nights-out, in 2012, a beautiful true-to-scale miniature cottage (left) and this year a true-to-scale windmill. The Fund has always received generous support from the local population and has also worked in co-operation with Roscommon Hunt. Lecarrow Clay-Pigeon Shooters and Lecarrow Lazers Cycling Club (amongst others) to gather funds for benevolent causes. None of this would have been possible without the support and dedication of the individuals who make up the executive committee of the Fund. In fact, during its entire existence the total number of people involved has never included more than fifteen to twenty individuals. With the money now collected, great care is exercised in choosing worthy recipients. As already stated, more than fifty percent of donations are given in strict confidence. Though individual cases therefore are secret, typical items that receive funding are: travel expenses and petrol vouchers for people undergoing treatment for very serious health conditions, the purchase of expensive medical aids for people (usually children) with special needs, financial support for individuals with an illness wishing to travel to Lourdes, occasional financial assistance to individuals in need and the purchase of Mass cards and Mass bouquets for the sick and recently bereaved. In addition to confidential benevolence, the Fund has also supported many local, regional and national charities. Some of the caring organizations that have benefitted (in no particular order) are: Western Alzheimers, Simon Community, St. Vincent dePaul, Alzheimer Society of Ireland, Roscommon Friendly Call Service, Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind, Mayo / Roscommon Hospice, Brothers of Charity Services (Monksland), The Wheelchair Association, Lourdes Assisted Pilgrimage Fund, Croí – The Heart Foundation, The Jack & Jill Foundation, Roscommon Hospital Patients Comfort Fund, Lourdes Invalid Fund, Mentally Handicapped Association, The Carers Association (Roscommon), Cystic Fibrosis Ireland, Knockcroghery Senior Citizens, St. John’s Christmas Party, Rahara Senior Citizens, Richmond Intensive Care Unit at Beaumont Hospital, Fr. Brennan’s Mission to Brazil and the North Kildare Ride in aid of Barretstown Fund. Other local organizations to benefit have included Knockcroghery Fair, Lecarrow Girl Guides, St. John’s New Cemetery Committee, St. John’s Parish Heritage Group, Knockcroghery/Rahara/ St. Johns Community Games, Lecarrow Development Committee & Tidy Towns, Roscommon Hunt (for charity sponsorship), the Memorial Stone at St. John’s Church, Lecarrow Coffee Morning and St. John’s Community Centre.
