Thousands raised for families of two frontline workers who died of Covid-19
Thousands of euro has been raised for two frontline healthcare workers who lost their lives after contracting Covid-19.
Catherine Whelan Hickey died following a battle against the virus in the Intensive Care Unit of St Luke’s General Hospital where she was part of the household staff.
The 51-year-old was originally from Ballavara, The Rower, Co Kilkenny, but had settled in The Butts in Kilkenny city with her husband Christopher, daughter Mechaela and son Christopher.
Father-of-one Jim Kenny, who was in his early 40s, from Byrnesgrove, Ballyragget, Co Kilkenny, also succumbed to the deadly virus. Mr Kenny was also a member of the support staff at the hospital.
Both died on April 15.
Amateur DJ Noel Burke has been holding a gig on Facebook Live for the past several weeks in his sitting room at weekends for frontline staff at the hospital and has so far raised €10,000 from public donations.
All money raised is now being donated to the families of Ms Whelan Hickey and Mr Kenny.
“I keep people in Kilkenny entertained for a few hours on a Saturday night so I decided to try to raise some money for a worthy cause. I thought of the frontline staff in St Luke’s Hospital and wanted to thank them for all the great work they are doing,” explained Mr Burke.
“It’s unreal and fabulous the generosity of the people of Kilkenny. I can’t thank them enough but I never thought I would raise as much. The donations keep coming in.”
Rhonda Carey, who works in the hospital and who was a friend of Ms Whelan Hickey and Mr Kenny, said all the staff decided all the money raised should go to their families.
Ms Carey said: “Everyone in St Luke’s is so grateful to Noel for doing this.
It’s terrible at the moment working out there. What he is doing has given us a bit of a lift.
"Speaking on behalf of all the frontline staff at the hospital (these donations) are going to a worthy cause,” added Rhonda.
Donations can be made to Frontline staff of St Luke’s Hospital Kilkenny on gofundme.com and via a Facebook page with the same name.
