Rossies launch 'shave or dye' campaign for a worthy cause

The Roscommon senior football panel has launched a 'shave or dye' campaign in order to raise badly needed funds for the Mayo Roscommon Hospice Foundation.

The Roscommon panel, along with backroom team and management, have embarked on the fundraiser with the aim of raising €30,000 for the Hospice. 

Here's Roscommon manager Anthony Cunningham backing the initiative.

 

Mayo Roscommon Hospice is a charity which provides palliative care services to people with terminal or life limiting illnesses and support to families who have lost a loved one. The charity receives no state funding and relies on donations from the public and the income from 12 charity shops in order to provide a programme of care to families in both counties.

Goalkeeper Colm Lavin is one of the main organisers of the campaign. 

"With a number of important restrictions having been put in place in order to stop the spread of Covid-19, this has had a knock-on effect for Mayo Roscommon Hospice and other charities," he said. "All 12 Hospice shops have had to close until further notice and public fundraising events have had to be postponed or cancelled. This has resulted in a drop of income of €30,000 a week for Mayo Roscommon Hospice. However, despite this and despite the increase in their costs due to additional PPE requirements, they are still providing the same services to patients."

"As a team we wanted to do something to support a good cause during this difficult time and Mayo Roscommon Hospice is an organisation which has helped so many families that we know. In addition, there has been a close association between Roscommon GAA and the Hospice in the past with the Hospice logo appearing on the Senior football team jersey for a number of years and Roscommon GAA raising funds for the Hospice on a number of occasions.

"We have decided to host a “Shave or Dye” event which will raise awareness and funds for Mayo Roscommon Hospice. Over the next two weeks, over 40 of us, between players, management and backroom team will either shave or dye our hair and we want you to play your part. We will run polls across the Roscommon GAA Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts and we want you to vote on whether people should shave or dye their hair!

"We have set a goal of €30,000 and anyone who donates €20 will automatically go into a draw for the chance of winning one of five signed Roscommon jerseys. A €40 donation will receive two entries and so on," continued Colm, adding that 100 per cent of the money people donate will go to the Hospice.

People can donate via this link - https://www.gofundme.com/f/helpforhospice

"Finally when you have donated, if you would like to private message the page with the phone number of someone who is cocooning and would enjoy a chat about GAA, please let us know and a member of the panel will get in touch with them," added Colm.