15 July 1998

EXCLUSIVE By AIDEN HENRY

MAYO-based charities are to benefit to the tune of almost £50,000 due to the overwhelming generosity of the people of locality who responded to a family in need last year.

The Robert Hestor Fund was set up to help pay the enormous medical bills of the late Robert Hestor (18), who died on the 11th June last year.

Friends and benefactors from different areas within a 20 mile radius of Claremorris, Roscommon and Dublin came together to organise various fundraising events to assist with these medical costs.

Robert was the only child of Brendan and Hazel Hestor who live in Templeogue, Dublin, but Brendan is a native of Brickens, Claremorris.

In 1990 Robert was diagnosed as having leukaemia and for five years he underwent chemotherapy while still continuing his education.

As there was no further treatment available in this country, Robert was refereed to the Duke University Medical Centre in North Carolina for specialised bone marrow transplant. The estimated cost of this treatment at the time was over £200,000.

As a result of the fundraising, and the heartening generosity of the people, the total amount raised was £237,143.

As it turned out, the medical expenses amounted to £132,998, short of the estimate due to a reduction by the Duke Centre. This left a surplus of £104,145 which is now to be further distributed.

On Monday night, in the D'Alton Inn, Claremorris, details of this dispersal of surplus funds was announced to a packed audience.

Three needy Mayo funds are to benefit handsomely. They are the Mayo/Roscommon Hospice (£20,000), Ambrose O'Malley Cystic Fibrosis Fund (£20,000) and the James Dillon Fund (£9,145).

Furthermore, the Children's Hospital Crumlin will receive £40,000 and Templogue College, where the late Robert was a student will receive £15,000.

The Chairman of the Claremorris Region Fundraising Committee, Mr. Ray Leonard, said last night that he was "delighted" the undertaking was such a success. He went on to thank all the helpers for their tremendous work rate, energy and enthusiasm for the task

Mr. Leonard also thanked the many, many people who dug deep to support this worthy cause.

An emotional Brendan Hestor, father of Robert, said: "Though shattered by the experience of losing my son, my wife Hazel and I, have had our pain eased by the extraordinary generosity of all you wonderful people".

Connaught Telegraph - News & Sport - July 1998