Little Blue Heroes enjoy Christmas outing in Mullingar
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Kyle, Darina and Cara Rooney sporting their Christmas jumpers.Image 2 of 12
Kris, Lucy and Karla Thompson from Mullingar.Image 3 of 12
Regan and Bernadette Quinn at the Mullingar Park Hotel.Image 4 of 12
Francis and Kate McCabe enjoying the day out.Image 5 of 12
Danielle Boyce and Annemarie Larkin from Little Blue Heroes.Image 6 of 12
Mark, Axel and Sharon Baldwin at the Christmas party.Image 7 of 12
Stephen Hamilton, Max Berry and Ashley Berry at the Little Blue Heroes party.Image 8 of 12
Emily, Shauna and Padraig Cullen enjoying the day out with the Little Blue Heroes.Image 9 of 12
Thomas and Crystal West from Mullingar.Image 10 of 12
Marcus and Keifer McArdle at the Christmas party.Image 11 of 12
Garda Paula Harken from Multyfarnham with Adam Boyce.Image 12 of 12
Matt, Caoimhe and Fiona McCormack in the Mullingar Park Hotel for the Christmas party.The Little Blue Heroes in the Westmeath area and their families were joined by other Little Blue Heroes from the Cavan Monaghan area for a Christmas party in Mullingar on Sunday week last.
The children had what has been described as a magical day, which included at trip on the Santa Express, a special train organised as a fundraiser by and for the 9th Westmeath Scouts, and a Christmas part at the Mullingar Park Hotel following that.
Danielle Boyce, a volunteer with the Little Blue Heroes charity, and mother to one of the Little Blue Heroes, told the Westmeath Examiner about the organisation and their day out in Mullingar.
There are 10 Little Blue Heroes in the Westmeath area, divided between Mullingar and Athlone Community Policing; the children have Garda Buddies who strive to make their experience with the charity as magical as possible, taking them to their local garda station and them on ‘tours of duty’ as often as possible.
“This year we have our first local Little Blue Heroes Christmas party; the families were taken on the Santa Express, run by the local Scouts, where they were treated like VIPs and met Santa and Mrs Claus and all the elves, joining in the festive fun.
“We then had a party at the Mullingar Park Hotel, including a meal, special gifts and more Christmas magic.
“The Westmeath Little Blue Heroes were joined by their colleagues from the Cavan and Monaghan Divisions to make the event extra special, as they were surrounded with families and friends all sharing the same experience.
“Each child was presented with Sarah’s Christmas Gift boxes (see below) to try to ease the financial burden that comes with Christmas, and to make this Christmas one to remember. Unfortunately this will be the last Christmas some of our Little Blue Heroes celebrate with their families, so our aim is to make it a Christmas filled with fun and laughter and capture the moments that will last forever.”
About Little Blue Heroes
The Little Blue Heroes Foundation, established in 2017, is a not-for-profit registered charity, operated voluntarily by garda members, retired garda members and civic minded people. The charity employs one person to look after day to day administration.
Little Blue Heroes is independent of An Garda Síochána, and is funded entirely by donations and fundraising – it receives no money from the state or directly from An Garda Síochána.
Mission
The Little Blue Heroes mission is to provide practical and financial support to families of children who have serious illnesses while granting the wish of the children it supports to become Honorary Gardaí to empower the child and foster positive engagement with An Garda Síochána.
Little Blue Heroes services
1. Essential financial support to families of serious and terminally ill children.
2. Honorary Gardaí – grant the wish of children to become Honorary Gardaí which includes a ceremony, full uniform, badges, station tours, and more.
3. Project Haven for Heroes – take families who wouldn’t normally get a chance to go away on holiday in Ireland.
4. Police Themed Events and Toys – arrange garda themed events for the children, and police toys.
5. International Police Support – where possible, arrange through the International Police Association Ireland for our Honorary Gardaí who need to go abroad for treatment to meet up with local police officers.
6. Hospital or Home Visits – visit children in hospital or at their homes and provide support, friendly chats and positive engagement for the children and their families.
7. Hospital Care Packs – arrange for hospital care packs to be delivered to families in hospitals as they may have found themselves having to make an unscheduled or urgent visit to hospital.
8. Sarah’s Christmas Gift – done in memory of hero Sarah Robinson, who left a legacy after she passed to support Little Blue Heroes families at Christmas.
Sponsors
A number of local businesses provided sponsorship for the Little Blue Heroes day out: Mileage Tyres, Lucy Loves, Lakeland Interiors, Kilmurray Hardware, Presents, Just Books, The Cosy Corner, Karen’s Gifts, Expert Electrical, Fagan Toys, Mindy Browns, Castle Varagh Hotel, Peak Performance Clinic, Boycey Sports, 360 Tech and Makool Refrigeration.