Birrs darren urges support for goals ebola response

Birr native and GOAL senior manager Darren Hanniffy has made an emotional appeal for locals to support the charity’s campaign to respond to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa.

“We’ve spent far more money than we’ve raised thus far,” Darren told the Offaly Independent today (Monday), adding that if ever there was a time to support the charity, now is that time.

In recent weeks Darren has travelled to both Sierre Leone and Liberia, and he has plans to return to Sierre Leone in the near future.

'It’s the job that I do,” he explained. “I’m very familiar with the work that GOAL does. I’ve responded to a lot of emergency situations with GOAL in the past, so from that perspective it wasn’t a big issue for me to respond.”

However he admitted that his recent trips did prompt nerves. “I haven’t responded to an Ebola outbreak before,” he said. “It does have its risks. Naturally I have to overcome my own concerns in responding. But we take tremendous care when we travel to limit the risks to us. We’re very cautious. We’re just as worried about Ebola as your readers. We take tremendous care for ourselves, our national staff and the people we serve.”

Commenting on the likelihood of Ebola reaching Ireland, Darren said there is probably less risk of it than in most other European countries, as the number of travellers to Ireland from affected regions is limited.

He added that he’s confident Ireland has the capacity to respond to an outbreak however. “The government is very well aware of Ebola and the risks that it presents, and are putting every effort into being ready for it,” he added.

So far approximately €150,000 has been raised by GOAL’s Ebola response campaign through public donations. Darren said already the charity has spent more than double that amount, with more to be spent.

“It’s not a question of whether we should respond,” he said today. “We have to.”

Those looking to help can do so in a number of ways. Those with health qualifications who are willing to contribute can check out www.goal.ie for details of the charity’s emergency recruitment drive.

Donations of €2, €4 or €6 can be made by text by sending the words ‘GOAL’, GOAL4’ or ‘GOAL6’ to 50300. Donations can also be made via www.goal.ie or by calling 01 9059990.

Those who aren’t in a position to donate money to the cause can spread the charity’s news by following its stories at the same website or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/goalireland.

“There’s no such thing as too small a donation,” Darren says. “Every donation makes a difference to us.”