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Audrey Moran, Therese O’Brien, Michael Healy Rae TD, Eileen Whelan, Mayor of Tralee Norma Foley and Cllr Sam Locke at the fundraiser in Paco on Friday. Photo by Dermot Crean
THEY did it…and then some!
Two ladies, Audrey Moran and Eileen Whelan, set out on a mission to raise enough money to buy two defibrillators and by Friday afternoon they had raised enough for three.
“We’re overwhelmed by the response from the public over the past week,” said Eileen Whelan of Paco. “We raised €1,200 on the day, but overall we’ve reached around €4,000 so far and some local companies have also pledged money.”
The fashion/coffee morning fundraiser was inspired by Audrey’s sister, Therese O’Brien’s experience after she almost died in the town centre in early January.
Therese felt unwell outside Lloyd’s Pharmacy in Ashe Street and her life was saved thanks to a defibrillator in the pharmacy, the skill of staff, local doctor Karen Soffe and medics who arrived quickly on the scene.
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The 48 year old married mom of three was at Paco on Friday in good health to take part in the fundraiser.
Mayor of Tralee Norma Foley, Cllr Sam Locke and Michael Healy Rae were among those showing their support at the store on The Mall, where Orla Diffily gave fashion tips and there was loads of prizes to be won. The Tralee Community Responders were also there to lend their support.
Eileen Whelan and Audrey wanted to thank everyone who contributed to the fund and all those who made the day such a success.
The funds raised will buy three Radon AED defibrillators costing €1,400 each — one will be placed at Foley’s SPAR on the Castlemaine Road (who will pay for half of one defibrillator), they will donated another to the Tralee Community Responders and the other will be placed at a location yet to be decided. Scroll down for photos…
Mayor of Tralee, Norma Foley, with Tralee Community Responders Mairead O’Carroll, Julie O’Sullivan, Camelia Draghici and Jimmy Murphy at the fundraiser in Paco on Friday. Photo by Dermot Crean
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Sheila Kennedy, Sheila Sayers, Dolores O’Connor and Carole Dooley at the fundraiser in Paco on Friday. Photo by Dermot Crean
Breda Browne and Geraldine O’Donoghue at the fundraiser in Paco on Friday. Photo by Dermot Crean
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Mary O’Donnell, Mary O’Regan and Mary Roche at the fundraiser in Paco on Friday. Photo by Dermot Crean
Orla Diffily, Eileen Whelan, Therese O’Brien and Audrey Moran at the fundraiser in Paco on Friday. Photo by Dermot Crean
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Brenda Lynch, Susan Curran, Jane Hurley and Sheila Kennedy at the fundraiser in Paco on Friday. Photo by Dermot Crean
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