By Michelle Crean

A Firies woman has added another €10,470 to the charity pot as her annual fundraiser was yet again a complete success.

WINNER: John and Helen O'Connor Firies pictured with the TV that they won in this year's 'Big Christmas Raffle' for Comfort for Chemo.

It's the fourth year Gina Herlihy has fundraised and her second time doing it online due to COVID - but that didn't stop the support from locals and beyond from digging deep and giving generously to the 'Big Christmas Raffle'.

Gina's goal is to raise as much funding as possible for Comfort for Chemo Kerry who are on a mission to raise €5m to build a new chemotherapy unit on the grounds of University Hospital Kerry (UHK). It is being built for the people of Kerry by the people of Kerry.

The Christmas raffle was held on December 10 live from Gina's own kitchen in Firies.

There were 73 happy winners on the night with John O'Connor from Firies winning the television sponsored by Johnny O'Meara Bus Hire and a fantastic hamper sponsored by Olivia Butler of Butler's Bar Firies.

"I am proud to fundraise for such a fantastic charity that is very close to my own heart," Gina told the Killarney Advertiser.

"The businesses of Kerry and beyond were more than generous with fantastic donations and prizes and everyone so very willing to support the raffle. I was very lucky to acquire new sponsors this year. The prizes were valued at over €5,500. We had fantastic prizes with everything from hotel breaks, vouchers, a BBQ course, beauty hampers, drink and meat hampers, a TV, and a bike.

Success

"The local people and businesses of Firies and beyond really stepped up to the plate this year again and made this event another fantastic success raising a whopping €10,470 with one hundred percent of this money going straight to the charity."

She added that due to its success that she's planning to do it all again next Christmas, hopefully even bigger and better.

"No doubt I will do this all again and if there are any businesses who would like to come on board and support this event I would be very grateful to hear from them," she said.

"Thanks to our amazing sponsors and supporters because without their help kindness, generosity and support, this charity event, and others like it, simply could not take place."