Celebrities help the Marie Keating Foundation and Newstalk ki ...

Over 320 guests attend Christmas lunch to support the Marie Keating Foundation’s 20^th year providing cancer programmes and services

Dublin, 6^th December 2018: Over 320 guests kicked off the Christmas season at the Newstalk Christmas Lunch in aid of the Marie Keating Foundation in The Shelbourne Hotel, Dublin, today. The lunch raised over €30,000 with all proceeds going to the Marie Keating Foundation’s Survive & Thrive programme, supporting cancer survivors as they complete their cancer treatment and adjust to the “new normal”.

Newstalk Breakfast presenter Shane Coleman was MC for the event, which was also attended by Frances Fitzgerald TD, writer and broadcaster Maia Dunphy, former X-Factor finalist and TV presenter, and TV presenter Anna Daly. Guests enjoyed a champagne reception followed by a delicious Christmas themed three-course lunch accompanied by wine, kindly sponsored by Marks & Spencer Ireland.

Entertainment for the afternoon was provided by Ronan Keating’s nephew, Josh Keating, who’s single ‘Not About Angels’ is available now for download on iTunes, with all proceeds going to the Marie Keating Foundation. Harvey Norman laid on a ‘Light for a Night’ raffle, with everyone who bought a scented candle put in the draw to take home the beautiful ‘Marie’ mattress and pink blush bed worth over €2,000. Johanna Harpur kindly provided a bespoke initial engraved birthstone necklace for the table raffle. Every guest received a goodie bag with gifts generously sponsored by Ballygowen, M&S, Catwalk HQ tan and Gill & Macmillan.

Linda Keating, Director of Fundraising, Marie Keating Foundation said “The Marie Keating Foundation is totally reliant on the generosity of people, companies and organisations to keep our cancer services going. That’s why we are so grateful for the continued support of Newstalk who sponsor this amazing lunch each year. We also want to say a big thank you to all the people who came to today’s event. Together with Newstalk, you are helping us to keep our nurses on the road nationwide, to keep our Ask the Nurse service going and to support our Comfort Fund, which helps families who are in a financial crisis because of cancer.”

Also speaking at the lunch was Shane Coleman, Newstalk Breakfast presenter who said, “This is a great start to the Christmas season for everyone at Newstalk, made even better because we are helping a charity that does great work to support men and women who are affected by cancer. As always, it was a fun and festive event and we hope that everyone who attended enjoyed it.”