The community of Letterkenny came together to commemorate the late Thomas Sweeney, with a special fundraising event held on April 27th.
The Station House Hotel hosted a quiz evening, attended by a wide circle of family and friends, with prizes and sponsorship donated by generous local businesses. Adjudicated by family friend Herbie Scott, the event was a resounding success, raising €4,180.
The youngest of seven children, Thomas sadly passed away in May 2017 aged 38, from cardiomyopathy, a disease of the heart muscle. A popular, well-loved, and hardworking individual, Thomas carved out a career as an engineer, and lived with his wife and four young children in Donegal.
€2,400 of the money raised was donated to the Mater Hospital’s Family Heart Screening Clinic, the official fundraising body of the Mater Miscericordiae Hospital.
The Family Heart Screening Clinic offers a vital service that screens relatives of persons whom have been diagnosed with an inherited cardiac condition. €1,780 of the fundraising was allocated to purchase a defibrillator for Glenswilly National School, where two of Thomas’s young children attend. The purchased defibrillator can be used in case of a sudden cardiac arrest.
The family of Thomas Sweeney presented the cheque to the Mater Foundation in June 2018, where they spoke about the wonderful support from the community to their fundraising event.
“On behalf of the Sweeney family, Tullygay, Letterkenny we would like to sincerely thank everyone for supporting the table quiz in memory of our dear brother Thomas in the Station House Hotel. We are overwhelmed with the generosity of all who supported this worthy cause, a testament to the high regard you had for him. Thomas would be very privileged to know this. Thank you all for your kindness.”
Mary Moorhead, CEO of the Mater Foundation, spoke of the importance of this donation to patient care.
“This wonderful donation to the Family Heart Screening Clinic will support a crucial service that helps to saves many lives. I am deeply grateful to Thomas’s family and friends, who gave their time and effort so generously towards this fantastic fundraiser.
“It was a really lovely way to remember and honour a special husband, brother, son and friend, work colleague and person to so many people.”
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