On Thursday 15^th March, Haven Pharmacy and the Beaumont Hospital Foundation came together to thank everyone who got involved in last year’s Christmas ‘Knitivity’ campaign and to announce the total amount of money raised through Haven Pharmacy’s participation.

The Campaign

This campaign called on people from all over Ireland to knit or crochet a Christmas character which would then be sold on behalf of the Beaumont Hospital Foundation in Haven Pharmacy’s. Initially, the campaign was rolled out in Beaumont Hospital. However, after an unprecedented response from the public, it was evident that there was an opportunity for the Foundation to expand the campaign’s reach throughout the country.

Sophie Hart (pictured above), Haven Ambassador for Haven Pharmacy Doherty’s in Beaumont suggested that the wider Haven Pharmacy group, which consists of 54 pharmacies across Ireland could get involved.

A Personal Touch

Each knitted character came with a tag, detailing who made the character, where they were from and why they wanted to support the Beaumont Hospital Foundation. This added to the uniqueness of the characters and reminded people of why it was so important to support the campaign.

A Big ‘Thank You’

Haven Pharmacy released a video to explain a little bit about the campaign, to thank those who got involved and to announce that €9700 has been raised through their participation.

“The take-up was excellent. People across the country were so generous with their time and we estimate that approximately 650 characters were knit and sold through Haven Pharmacy’s involvement. We’re delighted to say that we raised €9700 for the Beaumont Hospital Foundation.”

-Keith Brennan, Chairman, Haven Pharmacy

“What was lovely about this campaign, was that it encouraged people all over the country to pick up a hobby that many left behind years ago. The phones were abandoned, the dust was blown off the knitting needles and people came together to do something kind for an extremely worthy cause. The campaign really gathered momentum in the run up to Christmas last year, with all Haven pharmacies selling out of the characters, so we’re confident that it will do even better this year.”

Siobhán Smith, Marketing and Communications Co-ordinator, Haven Pharmacy

Beaumont Hospital Foundation

Beaumont Hospital is a large academic teaching hospital 5km north of Dublin City centre. They provide emergency and acute care services across 54 medical specialties. It is also a Designated Cancer Centre and the Regional Treatment Centre for Ear, Nose and Throat, and Gastroenterology. It is the National Referral Centre for Neurosurgery and Neurology, Renal Transplantation, and Cochlear Implantation.

Fundraising and Communications Manager for Beaumont Hospital Foundation, Sheila Campbell, explains why this money is pivotal for Beaumont Hospital –

“This money will go to fund vital services and equipment which is needed to help our nursing and medical staff to save lives here in the hospital.”

“Outside of Government funding there is still a great need for funding for equipment that doesn’t come under the budget. The fundraising that Beaumont Hospital Foundation undertakes on behalf of the hospital allows them to say ‘yes’ to some of the requests from medical teams and departments across the hospital who are looking for funding for services that are needed for them to do their jobs safely and also to be able to provide improved care for the patients of Beaumont Hospital”

-Sheila Campbell, Fundraising and Communications Manager for Beaumont Hospital Foundation

Haven Pharmacy would like to thank everyone who got involved in this campaign and to encourage anyone who would like to sign up for this years Knitivity campaign to e-mail siobhan.smith@indepharm.ie

Finbarr Kennelly and Edel Byrne discuss this initiative with Maura and Daíthi on RTÉ Today

Paul O’Neill of Killarney Chamber of Tourism & Commerce says:

“It is easy to see Killarney as a successful tourism town, but at its heart are communities of people who work together tirelessly to protect and enhance the National Park.  This initiative brings those communities together on a national scale and we are delighted to extend our hospitality to The Men’s Shed volunteers this November”

Indepharm Chairman Keith Brennan says: “Indepharm & Haven Pharmacy partnered with Men’s Sheds earlier this year as its values and commitment to local Irish communities aligned perfectly with those of Men’s Sheds. Our member Finbarr Kennelly saw an excellent opportunity for Haven Pharmacy and Men’s Sheds to support Killarney National Park and the Killarney Chamber of Commerce in clearing the Rhododendron in the National Park. We are delighted to see the partnership at the forefront of such an important initiative and it would not have been possible were it not for the generosity of Killarney Hotels and cooperation of the Chamber.”

Tim Calalane, NP&WS (National Parks & Wildlife Service): There are about 3100 hectares of killarney National Park that have varying degrees of rhododendron infestation.  Currently, approx. 2300 hectares (74%) of the park is under active management preventing rhododendron from becoming re-established following initial clearances using efficient and environmentally friendly methods. This programme consists of a few different elements of which volunteers play a pivotal role.  Along with a year-round student program, Voluntary Services International also hosts four two-week work camps over the summer months and finally the Killarney Mountain Meitheal have also been working tirelessly over the last number of winters eradicating rhododendron in different locations in the park. There are also annual contracts for areas that are not suitable for volunteers to work in.

Barry Sheridan, CEO of the Irish Men’s Shed Association, said “it’s an absolute pleasure for us to be involved. Men’s sheds are rooted in their local communities, but they also form a national network of like-minded men. Projects such as this show just how much our shedders have to contribute”.

The initiative takes place under the auspices of the Killarney National Park Mountain Meitheal which is sponsored by the Trustees of Muckross House – the meitheal being an ancient Irish agricultural practice which brings rural communities together in common cause. The initiative will run from Sunday November 5^th to Wednesday November 8^th. The volunteers will be specifically trained in using the approved “snip and spray” method which has proven to be effective at restricting the regrowth of the invasive plants.

Haven Pharmacy are thrilled to announce that we have joined forces with the Beaumont Hospital Foundation Ireland, for their Christmas #Knitivity campaign.

This is a fantastic initiative that invites people up and down the country to knit or crochet a Christmas character that can be sold to raise funds for the Beaumont Hospital Foundation. Each character is unique and comes in a beautiful bag, with a tag detailing the name of the person who made the character, where they are from and why they wanted to help the Beaumont Hospital Foundation.

Up to now, the pattern packs and characters were only available directly from Beaumont Hospital but they will soon be available in Haven Pharmacies across the country.

Indepharm and Haven Pharmacy Chairman Keith Brennan explains why Haven Pharmacy are getting involved :

“Due to the high number of people in Ireland supporting the Knitivity campaign, Haven Pharmacy have offered to assist the Beaumont Hospital Foundation by distributing the Knitivity pattern packs and selling the characters in all of our 54 pharmacies, with 100% of the proceeds going back to Beaumont Hospital Foundation. As all Haven Members are rooted in Irish communities, we regularly get involved in local fundraising. This link with the Beaumont Hospital Foundation is the perfect opportunity for us to come together as a group for an excellent cause”

Paddy Delaney, Managing Director of Beaumont Hospital Foundation said:

“We’ve been truly amazed by the generosity of Ireland’s knitters in communities countrywide who are currently busy knitting and crocheting Santa’s, Elves and Reindeer’s for the Knitivity campaign. The gift of their time and creativity will be of enormous benefit to Beaumont Hospital Foundation in funding new and improved equipment to the hospital’s busy theatres and wards. We are very grateful  to the Haven Pharmacy group for giving us their support which will help us to reduce costs and provide us with invaluable retail space for the wonderful Knitivity products, allowing those knit locally to be sold locally”.

There are three characters available to knit and/or purchase: Monty the Reindeer, Dr. Claus and Beau the Elf. Each pack contains step by step guidelines on how to knit or crochet each character and a label to add your own personal message.

If you, or anyone you know would like to get involved, you can drop into your local Haven Pharmacy or contact Beaumont Hospital Foundation on 01 – 809 2457/email hello@beaumont.ie or visit their website

Thank You,

The Haven Pharmacy Team

IndePharm Chairman (Keith Brennan) and Beaumont Hospital

Foundation Managing Director (Paddy Delaney)

The delightful staff of Haven Pharmacy Billy, Mark, Louise, Jella, Shona, Gillian and Louise

The following article originally appeared in the Limerick Post.

HAVEN Pharmacy on Lower Gerald Griffin Street used to be named LC Pharmacy. It’s now officially Haven Pharmacy following its new identity launch on Friday July 10 which saw Munster and Ireland Rugby star Marcus Horan cut the tape in a big party that rewarded crowds with goody bags, face painting, spot prizes food and cake and what Haven Pharmacy will make its name on, amazing value offers. “We are the leading fastest growing network of Irish independent community pharmacists in the country,” says owner and pharmacist Billy Lane. “We are in control of our own businesses but we operate under the banner of Haven Pharmacy which is synonymous with expert professional care from your local pharmacy team. We bring you excellent value and service in your retail experience with us.”

BILLY and his pharmacy team were delighted with the turn-out and warmth of last Friday July 10’s big day for the company and has special thanks for those who made its impact possible: “Marcus Horan was a credit to himself. He greeted all customers, stood for photos and even let the kids take photos with his precious Heineken and Six Nations medals – a true gentleman”. There was praise too for Sophie, the wonderful and talented face painter, Anthony aka Mickey Mouse who danced with all the kids; Boxes, Bows and Balloons, Corbally for the beautiful balloons on display in the pharmacy; Parle & Hickey, Jaymark and Celtic Candles for the spot prizes and a special thanks to the Charleville Park Hotel, Cork for the big prize give away. “And a big thank you to all our loyal customers who joined us on the day here at Haven Pharmacy,” Billy says.

GIVEN its central location, close to bus stops and the bus/ railway station, Haven Pharmacy has been designed to appeal to the local customer and all their needs – retail, beauty, sun care, as well as pharmacy and consultation – with personal, friendly, experienced service and every respect for client confidentiality. “We are also committed to ongoing training which every staff member will benefit from in areas such as customer service, product knowledge, merchandising and professional services.” Billy would like to thank all his professional staff for their commitment and for embracing this new venture.

Haven Pharmacy is at Lower Gerald Griffin St Limerick. Tel 061-415290. Sister company Haven Pharmacy is at Davis Street, Tel. 061-414330