Costume and camaraderie for Calcutta

The Strand, Kilkee, was host to the annual fancy dress fundraiser in aid of The Hope Foundation, Calcutta, last Thursday. Local woman Ann Marie Murray, home from India for a break, was surrounded by friends to help raise funds for the charity, which works for the street children in Calcutta.
Ann Marie has worked as a volunteer in the city of 22 million people, helping street children and those most at risk for almost a decade. Each year, she helps to support thousands of children and adults to receive lifesaving treatment on the streets and in the slums of one of the most deprived cities in the world. Whilst living in Calcutta, Anne Marie shares a protection home with 40 adolescent girls and has become a beacon of hope on the streets of the city.
Her tirelessness, humility and her generosity of spirit have touched the lives of many over the years and she continues to stress the generosity which the communities of Clare have shown over the years has made a huge difference in the developing society of Calcutta.
“When I went to Calcutta first, it was difficult to see how change could come about, with so much poverty and inequality, but seeing the work of Hope transform the lives of so many, supported by those in Clare, it is truly overwhelming,” Anne Marie said.
Ann Marie is joined in Calcutta regularly by Kilrush woman, Mary Nolan, who brings a wonderful level of care to those most forgotten. Mary can be regularly found dressing wounds, quietly and passionately, in the Hope-supported hospitals and goes about her work humbly, yet bringing smiles to those with whom she works and works for.
St Flannan’s College in Ennis continues to help support the Hope children of Calcutta to access sports for life experiences through cricket-coaching programmes and are a wonderful example to the youth of Ireland of what can be achieved to help those across borders, boundaries, communities and continents. Whilst a recession continues to engulf Ireland, we are reminded how far a €1 donation can go in Calcutta, with 89 cent immunising a child against life-threatening diseases.
Hope has been in operation since 1999 and though relatively small, continues to operate only in Calcutta, choosing to consolidate its efforts in one place rather than spread itself too thinly, to ensure the delivery of complete care and support.  
The Hope Foundation is a registered Irish Charity (CHY 13237) that operates only in India. Hope representative Michael Quinn regularly collects clothes in the Clare region.
The following are The Hope Foundations bank details in Ireland: Allied Irish Bank Ltd, 66 South Mall, Cork, A/C No: 50677089 Bank Sort Code: 93-63-83.