Applegreen employees and customers have now raised more than €2 million for Barretstown, doubling its original fundraising goal and helping to support children and families affected by serious illness in Ireland.
How did the partnership begin?
Applegreen initially set a target of raising €1 million for Barretstown over three years from 2023. However, as we now know, this number has doubled due to the fundraising efforts supported across the business, with staff, customers and suppliers all getting involved to help reach the milestone.
These fundraisers have included three charity cycles from Belfast to the Barretstown campus in Kildare, with the most recent ride involving 84 employees and raising €200,000, bringing the total funds raised under the partnership to over €2 million.
The popular 'Bands for Barretstown' campaign has also received strong support from customers nationwide. In addition to fundraising, Applegreen staff regularly volunteer at the Barretstown site, helping with everything from gardening and cleaning to preparing the campus for visiting children and families.
How will the funds be used?
Founded in 1994 by actor Paul Newman, Barretstown is based in County Kildare and is part of the global 'SeriousFun' network. It offers free-of-charge medically supervised residential camps and outreach programmes for children affected by cancer and other serious illnesses. The aim is to give children the chance to experience fun, connection and community in a safe and supportive environment.
The charity says the funds raised will directly support over 27,000 children and family members who take part in its services each year.
Speaking about its partnership with Applegreen, Barretstown Chief Executive Dee Ahearn said: "It has been truly amazing to see our partnership with Applegreen blossom over the past three years, and to witness the huge efforts of all their team to raise funds for Barretstown."
"Our partnership with Applegreen has been supported by employees at every level across their business in Ireland, and also by their customers who have gotten behind the Bands for Barretstown campaign in such amazing numbers."
What does Applegreen say about the milestone?
Applegreen CEO Joe Barrett praised the efforts of employees across the company and thanked customers and suppliers for their ongoing support: “Back in 2023, eighteen of our colleagues took to the saddle and raised €18,000 for Barretstown, whereas this year, 84 colleagues took part in the charity cycle, raising a phenomenal €200,000 in total. Right across the company our people are hugely passionate about the partnership, volunteering their time at various times of the year to go to Barretstown and support the team there with cleaning, gardening, and all of the other jobs that are required to get the campus ready for their campers.”