This coming Valentines weekend (February 12th-14th) the town of Fermoy and its surrounding area will witness a unique and challenging charity event in the centre of the town. On the Friday evening local man Conor O’Kane, who travelled as a volunteer to Haiti in October last year, will be hoisted over the town’s square. Housed in a purposely-built Perspex box Conor will fast and remain hoisted for close to 48 hours before coming back down to earth (literally) on Sunday afternoon. Reflecting on his brief trip to Haiti, Conor explained that “it was a truly life changing experience” and he “was particularly touched by the friendliness and pride of the local Haitians despite the unbelievable poverty they lived in”. Furthermore, he added that “what was most disturbing was the fact that the people had so little before the earthquake, it is hard to understand where they will get the will or resources to begin the recovery”. All proceeds from the event will go to the Haven Partnership Foundation. Haven, who Conor travelled with in October, are presently involved in the earthquake emergency relief project. However, after meeting with the Haitian president Rene Preval recently, Haven founder Leslie Buckley crucially announced that “Haven will construct up to 10,000 houses in the rebuilding of Haiti. With more than 1.5 million people estimated to be now homeless, the people of Haiti will need our assistance in providing permanent shelter more than ever”.
The intention of the “Hoisting for Haiti” project is to send local skilled tradesmen on the October 2010 house-building mission with Conor commenting “it costs €4000 to send a tradesman to Haiti, we hope to raise sufficient funds to send five local people in October, thus beginning what I hope will be lasting relationship between the townland of Fermoy and the people of Haiti”.
Donations can be lodged with the following bank details: AIB Acc: Hoisted for Haiti
Bank Sorting Code – 93-60-81 Account No – 20098-098
