Cork Man’s Eco-Friendly Fundraiser Supports Mercy Hospital Foundation
Cork’s Dave O’Leary Turns Plastic into Hope for Cancer Care
In a heartwarming initiative, Dave O’Leary from Cork has been collecting excess plastic bottles and cans to raise funds for the Mercy Hospital Foundation, honoring the memory of his late friend Ian. O’Leary, who works as an operator at the Pepsi plant in Little Island, started the campaign in August, finding inspiration during the Cork City Marathon as he saw others collecting recyclables for charity.
“This is something very close to my heart,” said O’Leary, reflecting on his friend’s battle with cancer and the compassionate care he received at Mercy University Hospital. Through this ingenuity, O’Leary aims to make a significant impact on a beloved local healthcare institution.
How the Fundraising Initiative Works
The fundraising project began when O’Leary noticed an increasing trend of people collecting recyclables during the marathon. Intrigued, he learned that they were doing so to support a charity and decided to replicate the model for the Mercy Hospital Foundation.
- Start Date: The campaign kicked off at the end of August.
- Location: Multiple blue bins emblazoned with the Mercy Hospital Foundation logo are placed around the Pepsi factory, encouraging employees to deposit used Pepsi cans and plastic bottles.
Since its inception, the project has successfully gathered over 6,000 cans and nearly 9,000 plastic bottles, translating to an estimated fundraising total of €700.
“I keep all the receipts and the transactions, and I hand them in at the end of the month to Pepsi,” explained O’Leary. “Whatever is raised from it, Pepsi will match it, so we’re hoping that it will be closer to the €1,000 mark by the time we hand over the cheque.”
A Growing Movement
Originally slated for a shorter duration, the campaign’s success has led Pepsi management to extend it twice, now running until December. “It was only supposed to run for a month, but then it just kind of grew stronger and stronger,” O’Leary noted. “We have great support from HR, and they said we’ll keep it going.”
For next year, O’Leary revealed that there are plans to reintroduce the initiative, selecting a different charity to benefit from the proceeds. “The plan is after this one finishes, we’re going to have another one for 12 months, and then donate it all at the end of the year to another charity going forward,” he said.
The Future of the Initiative
To bolster final contributions before the cheque presentation in December, O’Leary is launching a GoFundMe page at the end of November. Engaging the community for a “last push,” he hopes to gather additional resources to support not just Mercy Hospital but the ethos of community and compassion toward health challenges.
Reflecting on the motivation behind his campaign, O’Leary stated, “Everybody is touched by cancer, and the work they do inside there—dealing with everything from elderly people to young kids—is phenomenal.”
Such commitment not only sheds light on the importance of accessible healthcare but also emphasizes a collective responsibility to contribute positively to society through recycling efforts and charitable giving.
Join the Mission
O’Leary’s story is a potent reminder that even small actions, like recycling, can lead to monumental benefits for others in need. We invite readers to share this article and comment below on how they believe community initiatives can create lasting impact.
For more inspiring stories on community and technology, explore Shorty-News or check out external sources like TechCrunch or The Verge for the latest in charitable tech innovations.
What other local initiatives have you witnessed making a difference? Let us know!
