Castlebar’s Joanne up for charity award

Castlebar’s Joanne up for charity award


A prominent charity campaigner from Castlebar is on the shortlist for Ireland’s Charity Hero Award, which will be announced this coming Thursday.
Joanne Maloney is one of ten people shortlisted for the award, a national prize which honours individuals who have made an extraordinary contribution to good causes. The award is presented by The Wheel, the national representative body for community and voluntary groups, sponsored by EBS.
Joanne supports the Irish Cancer Society as her charity of choice as cancer has unfortunately played a major role in her life. Both her mother and best friend passed away from cancer within a year of each other.
After seeing them battle their illnesses with strength and dignity, she decided to create a book that would impart inspiration and hope for other cancer victims and their families around Ireland. This book, called Quoted Moments, was launched by An Taoiseach Enda Kenny and has already raised in excess of €10,000 and is selling not just nationwide but worldwide.
Joanne also organises an annual Masquerade Ball for The Irish Cancer Society with the upcoming Ball for 2012 being held on December 15 next. Joanne was also a committee member of Relay for Life Castlebar which raised in excess of €48,000 in September.
Joanne and her friends also turned Castlebar pink for the Pink Ribbon Appeal this year. Joanne has undertook so much work voluntarily in the past number of years, greatly helping the causes she has been working for.
Ireland’s Charity Hero Award is part of Better Together, a nationwide campaign which aims to make Ireland a better place to live by building support for charities, clubs and associations across the country.
“Heroes like Joanne Maloney are the backbone of our communities. Their selfless contribution helps to make Ireland a better place to live in,” said Deirdre Garvey, Chief Executive of The Wheel.
The recipient of Ireland’s Charity Hero Award will be awarded a cash prize of €1,000 to donate to their chosen cause. The winner will be announced at the Better Together Awards in Dublin this Thursday. See www.bettertogether.ie for more.