People urged to take on a hill for Jack and Jill this October to raise money to fund home nursing care for 400 children in local communities across Ireland.
Every day can be an uphill challenge for Jack and Jill families across Ireland and, this October, the charity is urging people to climb or walk a local hill in solidarity with over 400 families currently under its care as part of the eighth annual Up the Hill for Jack and Jill fundraising challenge, proudly supported by Abbott.
This is a significant year for the Jack and Jill Children’s Foundation, as it celebrates 25 years of funding and providing specialist in-home nursing care and respite support for children with severe to profound neurodevelopmental delay, up to the age of six. This may include children with brain injury, genetic diagnosis, cerebral palsy and undiagnosed conditions. Another key part of the service is end-of-life care at home for all children up to the age of six who require it, irrespective of diagnosis.
The nationwide charity has reached its own summit in 2022 by providing support to 412 children, the highest number in its 25-year history. To meet this steep care commitment, Jack and Jill is asking people in every county to support local families in their community by going Up the Hill for Jack and Jill.
With Jack and Jill, there is no means test, no waiting list and no unnecessary red tape. The core nursing team devises a home nursing care plan that is tailored around the child and the family’s needs, with the charity funding and providing up to 80 hours’ support each month. Jack and Jill’s funding model relies heavily on public donations to mobilise over 500 nurses and carers at community level and, in 2021, they delivered almost 110,000 hours of in-home nursing care and respite support.
3 Simple Steps to Go Up the Hill for Jack and Jill
Step 1 – Choose your Hill
From the Hill of Tara in Meath to St Patrick’s Hill in Cork, there’s a local hill around the corner to suit your fitness level and ability. Whether you go high or go low, it’s the taking part that keeps Jack and Jill on the go!
Step 2 – Grab some friends, family, neighbours or colleagues, pick a date that suits and make it a day out to remember
Bring a picnic to celebrate when you get to the top and remember to take a photo and tag Jack and Jill on social media with #UptheHill22 so everyone can see you!
Step 3 – Register
Register today for just €18 per person at JackandJill.ie, which will support one hour of specialist in-home nursing care for a local Jack and Jill family.
A Hill Everyone Can Conquer
For Carmel Doyle, CEO, Jack and Jill Children’s Foundation, charity really does begin at home with Jack and Jill:
Every year, it’s an uphill challenge to raise the money we require to provide our service. But, like the families we support, we just keep going, with a gentle push from the people who donate in the knowledge that their support means so much to local children. With Jack and Jill, charity really does begin at home, and our Up the Hill challenge is all about community and we are delighted to welcome Abbott into our community of care as a sponsor this year. Every €18 raised supports one hour of in-home nursing support, allowing Jack and Jill parents to grab 40 winks, go for a walk with their other children, or grab a coffee, knowing that their precious child is being well cared for at home, where they belong. That sense of community really matters, now more than ever.
Follow on social media at Facebook @jackandjillfoundation; Instagram @jackandjillcf; Twitter @jackandjillcf; Tik Tok @jackandjillcf; and LinkedIn @Jack and Jill Children’s Foundation and use #UpTheHill22