Padraig Beasley , 11 years of age from Listowel, Co. Kerry passed away on the 6th January 2023
We are privileged that Padraig & his wonderful family allowed us to capture & share with you what an amazing young boy he was and the love that he was surrounded by.
Padraig smiled through every day of his treatment over the past number of years and made a lasting impression on everyone he met, teaching us all a very special lesson in life
Thank you Padraig for just being you
The relentlessly rising cost of living is having a significant impact on families with many struggling to make ends meet, Cliona’s Foundation are noticing an increase in the number of people applying to them for financial assistance. These families are the ones who are already crippled financially by the non-medical costs associated with caring for a sick child. They are now once more disproportionately affected by rapidly increasing bills. They are Ireland’s forgotten families.
Cliona’s has provided financial assistance to over 1,000 of these families over the past 14 years
in 2022 four of these special families shared their incredible personal stories in a ground-breaking two-part documentary series called “Ireland’s Forgotten Families”. The two episodes, created by Jon Slattery at Trilogy Media, aired on Virgin Media Three.The response received from the general public was wonderful with many admitting they were not aware of Cliona’s and were really inspired and very moved by the families featured and the support provided by Cliona’s .
Each of these families experienced, and continue to experience, the significant non-medical costs of caring for a child with a life-limiting condition.
The featured families include the Crowes. Their daughter Sarah sadly passed away after a very brave battle with Alpers (Mitochondrial disease) in 2016. Sarah was just 12 years’ old. However difficult the illness was for Sarah and those who loved her, her family are keen for people to know that she lived a life filled with love and laughter. This message is a recurring theme throughout all four stories. The great love, devotion, and dedication these families have for their child and each other is truly something to behold. Cliona’s Foundation believe that these families deserve all the support and kindness that we, as a society, can offer to them.
Speaking about participating in the documentary Sarah’s father Dave Crowe said “We were very happy to be one of the families featured in the documentary. As a result of our journey with our wonderful daughter Sarah, we know first hand just how much the help Cliona’s give to families really means to them, that someone out there is thinking of us and wants to help, means the world”.
Also featured are the Russells and their triplets. We learn that these devoted parents sometimes slept in their car during son Cillian’s long hospital stays. We meet Wexford mum Rita Dempsey, who has to be one of Ireland’s unsung superheroes. Their story and how she overcomes her challenges and remains positive while caring for her three children with special needs is incredible. Finally, we meet Padraig Beasley, whose cheery disposition and good humour while receiving treatment for Neuroblastoma (twice) was truly uplifting, heart warming and an absolute inspiration to see.
In advance of the airing, Cliona’s Foundation ambassador Joy Neville said “I have been a proud ambassador of Cliona’s for quite some time now. I am absolutely delighted to be a part of this journey to tell the stories and speak for Ireland’s forgotten families. After becoming a mother recently, myself, I have a renewed empathy with the families that Cliona’s support and a deeper understanding of the importance of Cliona’s Foundation in what they are trying to achieve”.
2022 marks 15 years of working on behalf of the forgotten families of Ireland whose daily struggles are at the heart of what Cliona’s do. So many of us are parents, we have all had to take care of a sick child at some stage in our lives. For the majority of us our precious child bounces back and all is well again, but for approximately 4,000 families in Ireland this is not the case, they face an arduous, daily struggle with long term, life-limiting illness. It’s time to tell their stories.
Through “Ireland’s Forgotten Families” we are presented with the privilege of benefiting from an extraordinary insight into the personal journeys of some truly remarkable families living in every community in Ireland.
Cliona’s Foundation expects at least 200 families will apply for financial assistance this year and will need to raise a minimum of €500,000 to meet these applications.
