By Michelle Crean

Wednesday was the day that €1,500 was donated to a very worthy cause as photographer Marie Carroll-O'Sullivan handed the funds over to a local group.

For the past seven years she had chosen the Jack & Jill foundation as a recipient of her annual photoshoot fundraiser but this year, her eighth year, she decided to make a change and keep the funding more local.

However, it was the Kerry Mountain Rescue Team this year as Marie knew they were building a new base in Killarney town and the amazing work that they do.

"Last summer I was sitting outdoors in the sunshine, glass of wine in hand at the stunning Europe Hotel and watched the rescue helicopter fly over and back a few times. Exceptional people I thought, and change is good! I knew the team at Kerry Mountain Rescue were expanding their base camp at Killarney Garda Station and in need of funding. It's a mere drop in the ocean but it's a dent all the same," Marie told the Killarney Advertiser.

"I was delighted my trusted admin personnel, Collette Clifford O'Shea decided to remain on board with me when I changed the beneficiary to Kerry Mountain Rescue. It had always been Jack & Jill which held a special place in Collette's heart having lost her son Sean at just 21 months."

"I think it's good to give back while we are here, no matter now big or small. Each and every family, business, group that walked through the door to have their portrait taken, helped me to help the Kerry Mountain Rescue in some little way. I love that quote "individually we are one drop, together we are an ocean".

"Without Collette and the support of the community and the use of the Christy O'Connor Suite at the beautiful International Hotel, it simply would not be possible. It's not a huge amount, but every little helps. As KMRT's John O'Sullivan said, "we'd be a while collecting at church gates to the tune of €1,500", which meant the world to me."