Plumber Tommy Hughes from Dooradoyle in Limerick has tapped into a new fundraising idea, Copper for Cancer, to raise much-needed funds to help people affected by cancer.
Tommy is calling on plumbers in Limerick and the wider Munster area to donate some scrap metal on a monthly basis, with all money raised from the sale of the items going to fund the Irish Cancer Society’s supports for people with cancer.
Tommy lost his wife to breast cancer two and a half years ago, and his father also died from cancer 25 years ago. Tommy’s wife used the Irish Cancer Society’s Night Nursing service, and was cared for in the family home by a Cancer Nurse at the end of her life.
This year, Tommy came up with the idea of asking plumbers to donate some of their old taps and mixers to raise funds and ensure other families affected by cancer have access to the same information, care and support that he and his family received.
He has joined forces with scrap metal collection company United Metals, who have offered to collect any materials local plumbers wish to donate for free, while Troy Packaging are supplying collection bags at cost price.
If the local initiative is successful, Tommy hopes to expand it throughout Munster and eventually nationwide.
He said, “I saw first-hand the work of the Irish Cancer Society’s Night Nursing service and it was fantastic. The Irish Cancer Society’s services are fully reliant on donations from the public, so with the help of plumbers around the country I want to ensure others facing cancer have access to nursing care, information and support.
“There are 4,000 plumbers in Ireland, and I would say most of them have been touched by cancer in some way, so I am asking them to donate some of their scrap metals to help raise vital funds. If half of the plumbers in Ireland gave one basin tap per week it would amount to circa €120,000 per year. If a quarter of all plumbers gave one bath or sink mixer per week it would amount to around €270,000, and if a quarter gave one indirect cylinder per month it would raise circa €360,000. There’s potential there to raise a lot of funds for a great cause.”
Businessman Bobby Kerr helped launch the initiative in Limerick on Friday.
He said, “If plumbers and contractors could donate just some of their scrap metal to Copper for Cancer they could make a huge difference to the lives of people affected by cancer. As someone who has experienced cancer myself, I know how difficult that experience can be. Money raised for the Irish Cancer Society through this initiative will help ensure no one has to face cancer alone.”
Tommy said he would also welcome donations of scrap metal from bigger contractors, factories, recycling centres etc, and Limerick University Hospital have already signed up.
Collection points will be based at various locations in Munster including: Heat Merchants in Limerick, Ennis, and Nenagh, McMahons Builders Providers, Dock Road, Limerick, Ger Malones, Garryowen, A & R Supplies, Pennywell Road, Heiton Buckleys Builders Providers, Ballysimon, T.P.Heating, Dock Road, Pat Nash, Mungret, Tadhg O’Connor in Rathkeale and Newcastlewest and 20 Co Op Superstores around Munster.
For more information on collection points contact Tommy on 086 2441271.
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