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Ireland’s largest and most established global law firm, Eversheds Sutherland recently invited Team IMAGE to join them on a Helping Hands Day at Barretstown in Co Kildare. It was lashing rain, in true Irish summer style, but we had a great time planting trees on the estate alongside employees from Eversheds Sutherland – working together to support a cause very dear to all of our hearts.
Barretstown is a wonderful charity that provides specially designed camps and programmes for children, and their families, living with a serious illness – supported behind the scenes by 24-hour on-site medical and nursing care. They are Ireland’s largest provider of medically endorsed therapeutic camps and programmes and a leader in the psychosocial care space, serving children from Ireland, the UK and throughout Europe.
“Our mission is to help as many seriously ill children as possible to rebuild confidence, emotional well-being and independence after the trauma of a childhood illness,” says Dee Ahearn, CEO at Barretstown. “The services we provide are now a strategic part of national health policy and align to the objectives of the National Cancer Strategy to provide for the unmet psychosocial needs of children.”
Eversheds Sutherland launched their partnership with a €25,000 donation to Barretstown, a drop in the pond compared to the huge funds they’ve raised for the charity since. Over the years, this partnership continues to grow as Eversheds Sutherland show their support through active participation in the governance of the charity, volunteering, further donations, event sponsorships and free legal advice.
“Our firm has raised over €250,000 for Barretstown, meaning we have funded 250 days of camp within the facility – something we at Eversheds Sutherland are immensely proud of,” said Connell. “We have been proud supporters of their ongoing fundraising activities, having sponsored their Gala Ball events in 2014, 2017 and 2019, and their Sports Day events from 2011 to 2017. The funds raised from these types of events are crucial for continuing the camp’s mission of providing free, medically supported programs to children and their families.
“The facilities at Barretstown are part of what makes it such a special place and the Eversheds Sutherland team have also helped to support the development of some of those facilities – from planting trees to donating orchards to sponsoring the maze on its grounds in Co Kildare. In keeping with our values, we offer a unique opportunity for people in our firm to take part in volunteer days with Barretstown. Our Head of Litigation, Pamela O’Neill, also sits on the charity’s Risk & Governance Committee, which is such an important area of focus for all charities. We also provide support through pro bono legal and tax advisory services.”
In 2023, Barretstown marked the milestone of serving over 100,000 campers and is projected to support over 250,000 by the end of the decade. In advance of celebrating its 30th-anniversary Barretstown commissioned a report which estimated the social value of the impact of its services over the last three decades at over €1.9 billion. To mark this milestone, they are holding the Barretstown 30th Anniversary Gala Event to help raise funds this September.
Eversheds Sutherland have recently been confirmed as the headline sponsor for the gala. Speaking on the partnership, Alan Connell says, “We are immensely proud to have supported Barretstown as our corporate charity partner for over 17 years. As our firm strives to be a responsible business, we continue to help our clients, our people and our communities, particularly those in our society facing difficult circumstances, to thrive. We are delighted to be sponsoring the Barretstown Gala Event for the fourth time, on their very special 30th Anniversary.” You can read more about this and ways to participate here.
Barretstown also regularly shine a light on campers and their families who have benefited from their services. Alex and Elayna, young girls who have experienced the devastating effects of an ultra-rare illness, are two such children. Read their story here and learn how Barretstown helps change the lives of children like them suffering from cancer and other serious illnesses.
To help keep their exceptional services going, Barretstown must raise €9 million this year, with just 4% of government funding contributing to this. Businesses and individuals can get involved by fundraising and volunteering. For more information, contact a member of the Barretstown team or visit www.barretstown.org.
“The services provided to all the children and families who come to Barretstown are entirely free of charge,” explains Ahearn, “so charity partners, such as Eversheds Sutherland, are hugely important and vital for the charity to help more seriously ill children experience the magic of Barretstown.”
Photography by MDA Productions.
If you have an interest in finding out more about a firm whose people live its values, are purposeful, purpose-led, and support their communities discover more at Eversheds Sutherland’s website.