WEST Limerick fundraisers, Friends of St Ita’s, have been named Limerick Persons of the Month after raising over €4 million for the community hospital.

Chairman Fergus Scanlan, accepting the award on behalf of the team said; “It's not just an award for the Friends of St Ita’s but it's very much so for the community of west Limerick, because without them and their support and their generosity, we certainly would not be here today”.

The community group was founded in 2003 to support management and staff in delivering an effective service to the community, to raise funds for the provision of services, equipment and aids for the elderly residents of the hospital.

“We have a long history, an awful lot achieved. We have, over that time raised, to date, €4.27 million. For a lot of that we have to thank JP McManus and his wonderful committee. On two occasions we have got funding for different projects. They all arose from the various Pro-Ams,” added Fergus, who was joined by assistant treasurer Geraldine Loughnane and secretary Margaret Culhane.

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With 28 beds in use and over 90 patients, they also raise funds for the provision of social activities for the elderly and assist in every other way possible to continue to improve the present very high standard of care, comfort and well being of the patients.

“And another factor, which plays a big part in it, is transparency. People see every cent we get, it's accounted for and we are voluntary. We don't take a cent ourselves. So it's very much a good news story. And the hospital itself is a fantastic hospital.It's a small community hospital.

“We feel that our success is largely attributable to the fact that it's people from the community and patients from the community who are availing of the services. So anything we do for the community, they're benefiting from,” Fergus concluded.

The Limerick Person of the Month award is jointly sponsored by the Limerick Leader/Limerick Live, media agency Southern, and the Clayton Hotel.