![\"Charity](\"http:\/\/www.anfocal.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/Charity-week-funds-awarding-570x570.jpg\")
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By Tom\u00e1s Heneghan<\/p>\n
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Last May the University of Limerick Students\u2019 Union (ULSU) presented its \u20ac30,000 Charity Week and donation fund to four local charities.<\/p>\n
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Console, Share a Dream Foundation, Rape Crisis Midwest and Novas Initiatives all benefited from the fundraising events held during ULSU Charity Week last March. Each charity received an equal \u20ac7,500.<\/p>\n
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Outgoing ULSU Welfare Officer, Shane McCormack presented the cheques to the four charities at an event at the university in May.<\/p>\n
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Mr McCormack said the Student Executive at the university had chosen the four charities from just under 60 charity nominations this year. He also said funding was raised from various sources including condom sales throughout the year, local donations and charity week profits.<\/p>\n
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He explained: \u201cWe are delighted to be able to hand over \u20ac30,000 today. We are delighted to have been given the opportunity to raise funds for the charities and also those that were not nominated this year can be nominated next year.\u201d<\/p>\n
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\u201cThis is definitely the highlight of the year. You can see result of the effort put in by students and ourselves. Hopefully next year students will be able to go in with that same energy and come out with the same result for the next four worthy causes.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Describing the funds as \u201ca great benchmark\u201d, outgoing ULSU President, Tommy Bolger said the \u20ac30,000 was double the amount raised last year by the union.<\/p>\n
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He added: \u201cI\u2019d just like to thank all the students that volunteered, not just for Charity Week but throughout the whole year. The Students\u2019 Union depends wholly on volunteers, we\u2019ve only got a certain number of staff.<\/p>\n
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\u201cIt\u2019s definitely a good note to be going out on. It\u2019s the biggest week of the year from the moment you get elected – all eyes are on Charity Week as a big week and it\u2019s an indicator of the whole year really. The Union is going from strength to strength.\u201d<\/p>\n
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On the night Pauline Londra from the suicide charity, Console thanked all those who participated in the fundraising efforts for the charity.<\/p>\n
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Ms Londra explained: \u201cI wish to thank the student union and all the volunteers for all their hard work and effort they put into raising much needed funds for the various charities including Console.<\/p>\n
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Shay Kinsella from the children\u2019s charity, Share a Dream Foundation said the money the charity received would go towards the creation of an accessible playground in Limerick for disabled children.<\/p>\n
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Mr Kinsella explained: \u201cOnce again UL have shown Limerick as an extraordinary community reaching out a hand of love and friendship to hundreds of very sick and disabled children who all too often feel they are forgotten about by raising an incredible \u20ac30,000 for four charities in the area.<\/p>\n
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Verena Tarpey of Rape Crisis Midwest said the donation came at a good time after the centre was forced to close last September for a month due to a lack of funds.<\/p>\n
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Ms Tarpey explained: \u201cThis money will go towards maintaining the current services here – paying the mortgage on our premises, the electricity bills and keeping our doors open.<\/p>\n
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\u201cRape Crisis depends on so many volunteers to help deliver our service. Likewise, we must recognise the team of volunteers who organised and managed the ULSU Charity Week – it simply could not have taken place without them.<\/p>\n
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Chris O\u2019Connor from Novas Initiatives said the charity was \u201coverwhelmed\u201d by the \u20ac7,500 donation.<\/p>\n