Every goal counts as Westport United launches fundraiser for Daisy Lodge
€5 pledged for every goal scored by U10 to U19 teams as Daisy Voyage campaign passes €15,000
Westport United has teamed up with The Daisy Voyage to launch a new fundraising initiative that will see every goal scored by the club’s U10 to U19 Mayo boys’ and girls’ teams help raise money for the new Daisy Lodge in Cong, Co. Mayo.
The initiative, Goals for Daisy, will run throughout the next 10 weeks of the Mayo School Boys and Girls Soccer League season, with Westport natives Liam and Aneta Walsh and family pledging to donate €5 for every goal scored, up to a maximum of €7,500.
The fundraising supports The Daisy Voyage, which follows Tom Bourke and Bryan Hyland as they prepare to row across the Atlantic, from La Gomera in the Canary Islands to Antigua in the Caribbean, covering more than 3,000 miles in approximately 60 days this December in the World’s Toughest Row.
Funds raised will go towards Daisy Lodge, the Cancer Fund for Children’s therapeutic short-break centre in Cong.
The Daisy Voyage campaign has already raised more than €15,000, with organisers hoping the latest initiative will add significantly to that total over the coming weeks.
Welcoming the partnership, Westport United Chairman Richard Grady said the club was proud to support the campaign.
“We are absolutely delighted to be able to support Tom and Bryan through Goals for Daisy and to be associated with The Daisy Voyage,” he said.
“Hopefully we’ll see plenty of goals and excitement across our boys’ and girls’ games over the summer. We’d also like to say a special thank you to Liam and Aneta Walsh and family for their incredible generosity and continued support of our community.”
Tom Bourke said the fundraiser reflects the community spirit behind The Daisy Voyage.
“From the very beginning, this journey has been about community. To see local young players helping raise money every time they score is something really special,” he said. “We’re incredibly grateful to Liam, Aneta and family for their generosity, and to everyone at Westport United for getting behind the idea.”
Bryan Hyland said every goal would make a difference to families who rely on the services provided by Cancer Fund for Children.
“Every goal scored over the next ten weeks will help families across Ireland who need Cancer Fund for Children and help get the doors open to Daisy Lodge in Cong,” he said. “It’s a brilliant way to bring sport and community together for a cause that means so much to us, and we can’t wait to follow the goal tally over the summer.”
Weekly goal updates will be shared throughout the campaign as Westport United’s young footballers play their part in helping families affected by childhood cancer while supporting the opening of Daisy Lodge.