Golfer Rory’s £1million present to children’s centre

Golfer Rory’s £1million present to children’s centre

14 May 2014

DOUBLE major golf champion Rory McIlroy’s charitable foundation has donated £1million to the Northern Ireland Cancer Fund for Children’s new short break centre in Newcastle.

The County Down man set up the ‘Rory Foundation’ last year to support children’s charities around the world.

He has a close association with Cancer Fund for Children, which provides practical and emotional support for children and young people diagnosed with cancer, and recently visited their new therapeutic short break centre Daisy Lodge.

His foundation has now committed £1 million to the Cancer Fund for Children over a period of four years to support the running of the lodge, which is the first of its kind in the UK and Ireland.

Daisy Lodge opened in April to provide free short breaks for up to 500 families affected by cancer annually.

It is built in the style of a mountain lodge to provide families with a much-needed chance to relax and recuperate away from the gruelling routine of hospital visits, stress and worry.

Daisy Lodge include six double family suites, four therapy rooms, a range of age-appropriate play areas, two communal lounge areas, large open dining space, specialist kitchen facilities, cinema and safe outdoor play areas.

Rory said his foundation sets out to give children a helping hand.

“It’s that simple,” he said.

“I was overwhelmed on a visit to Daisy Lodge, overwhelmed by the honesty, the courage and the warmth of the children and teenagers there and immediately made the decision the enhance my support of the Cancer Fund for Children.”

Gillian Creevy, chief executive of Cancer Fund for Children, said Rory’s personal commitment to the charity’s work over the last 18 months is appreciated. 

“Despite his time being so valuable and demands on him so great, he has still managed to create opportunities to personally meet with children living with cancer - and every time he does, he leaves behind young people with their spirits and self-esteem well and truly lifted,” she said.