Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Liz's Lunch




Best Supporting: 1. Ali Hewson, Liz O Donnell and Adi Roche; 2. Siobhan Carnegie and Aisling Kilduff. (Pix. Brian McEvoy)

Over 170 supporters of Adi Roche’s Chernobyl Children International (CCI) came out in force, to support an annual fundraising event organised by and director of Chernobyl Children International (and former Minister of State for Overseas Development) Liz O’Donnell at the Westbury Hotel, Dublin.

Along with Adi Roche, founder & CEO of CCI, and Ali Hewson fellow board member Liz greeted the many guests who represented the arts and culture, government and commercial sectors.  The monies raised from ‘Liz’s Lunch’ will go to support CCI’s Medical Care Programme, including life-saving cardiac surgeries for children on critical waiting lists in the Chernobyl regions.

A glittering array of raffle items on offer included an exquisite Chloe Townsend piece of jewellery, kindly donated by Loulerie Jewellers, a shearling collar piece donated by the well-known designer Yasmin Velloza, Dr Dre Beats generously donated by Ali Hewson, luxurious weekend breaks as well as several sets of hot concert tickets courtesy of Caroline Desmond of MCD.

Speaking at the event, Liz O’Donnell said, “The effects of Chernobyl are still being felt in the form of high levels of genetic birth defects, in particular the rise of the heart defect, commonly known as ‘Chernobyl Heart’. Waiting lists for urgent surgeries are growing and we need to help even more children.”