By Michelle Crean

Eight Killarney schools are planning to get colourful next month to help raise some vital funding for Kerry Hospice Foundation.

The fundraiser, which takes place on Friday December 2, was launched in St Brendan’s College on Wednesday with Kerry All Stars Gavin White and David Clifford on hand to add their support to the event.

The joint school fundraiser, which has been running for three years, has raised in excess of €25,000 for various charities.

Continuing on from the success, the staff and students of Holy Cross Mercy, Killarney Community College, Presentation Monastery, Lissivigeen, St Brendan’s College, St Brigid’s, St Francis Special School and St Oliver’s will wear their most colourful Christmas jumpers and make a donation in aid of this fantastic cause.

The chairs of the committee are all Fifth Year LCVP students in The Sem; Neil O'Carroll, TJ O'Sullivan, Ryan McCarthy, Mark Sheehan and Dara O'Shea.

This year there are more schools than ever involved, something which fundraising committee chairman Tj O'Sullivan is thrilled with.

"It is great to have Livissigeen on board this year," he said.

"Some of the students in the class organising the fundraiser are past pupils and delighted that their old primary jumped at the prospect of getting involved."

Co-chair, Neil O'Carroll, added that it costs €10,000 plus per week to provide hospice services.

"That is our aim – we think it would be incredible if the young people of Killarney could, as a school community, finance a full week of care for the hospice’s clients."

Student Ryan McCarthy said that they are "working really hard" on this fundraiser and "are really optimistic about this year’s event and the prospect of raising more money than previous fundraisers".