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TLC4CF to benefit from Louise’s lemonade stand

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A YOUNG Ennis girl and her friends are planning to raise money to help those with cystic fibrosis in a real case of lemon-aid.

In 2011, The Clare Champion highlighted the efforts of young Louise Cusack, who managed to raise an impressive €1,000 for TLC4CF with a lemonade stand outside her home on the Tulla Road. She was inspired to organise the fundraiser after her little sister, Amy, was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis.

Now the 11-year-old youngster, who attends Barefield National School, has decided to run the fundraiser again this Saturday.

However, this time she will be doing it with a little help from her friends. According to her mum, Nicola, Louise is hoping she will be able to do this every year from now on.
“I’m very proud of what Louise is doing. She is always thinking about her sister, Amy, and about others. Amy was in hospital recently and while we were visiting her, Louise came across others with CF, who were a lot sicker than Amy. She just wanted to do something to help them. That’s why she decided to do the fundraiser again,” she said.

Five-year-old Amy was diagnosed with CF in 2010, having been sick for much of her young life. According to Nicola, her daughter is now doing really well.
“She’s been doing great, really well. She has just come out of hospital but really that’s been her first time back in hospital in two years. She’s doing really well and is going into senior infants in Barefield. Both Louise and Amy are really close. Louise is always minding her.”

The idea for the lemonade stand first came about when Louise and her aunt were trying to come up with something to do during the summer holidays in 2011. Her aunt suggested a lemonade stand to raise some pocket money but Louise instead decided it would be a better idea to raise money for charity and what better charity than TLC4CF, who work to help people with cystic fibrosis.

Her aunt, Alicia Eccles, said, “Two years ago, Louise had the lemonade stand and the idea to raise money for charity was all her own. She raised €1,000, which was fantastic. It was a huge success. So many people came and they were all so generous.
“People came from all over Ennis because they had read her story in The Clare Champion and they were donating such generous amounts. She didn’t have it last year but with her sister in hospital, it inspired her to do the fundraiser again.
“This time she has got her friends around the estate involved. It’s a whole group effort and they are all really excited. She is hoping to do this every year now. She’s getting older now and she and her friends are more able to organise it themselves.”

Hopes are high that lots of people will come out and support the fundraiser this Saturday. The lemonade stand will be outside Louise’s house at 27 Rathban, Tulla Road from 12 noon.
Nicola said, “We are encouraging all of the neighbours to support the stand. We are going to be dropping in flyers around to the houses to let people know what’s happening and, hopefully, there will be plenty of support.
“TLC4CF are very encouraging when it comes to fundraisers and they are a great organisation. No matter what we raise, everything counts. Hopefully, if the weather is good we will have a good turnout on the day.”

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