A Co Laois woman, Mrs Elizabeth O’Kelly, has bequeathed a total of €30 million to five charities, it has emerged.
My Legacy members the Irish Cancer Society, RNLI and Irish Heart Foundation are beneficiaries of this incredible generosity.
The Irish Cancer Society said the amount represents the income of two annual Daffodil Days. Mrs O’Kelly’s ‘kindness and generosity is reflected in her decision to leave equal amounts in her will to five charities.’ the Society said in a statement. ‘Mrs O’Kelly’s generosity will provide hope to so many people affected by cancer and deliver improvements in cancer care that would have been impossible otherwise’.
The Irish Cancer Society added that Mrs O’Kelly had ‘successfully battled cancer in the 1980s. She knew first-hand the challenges cancer patients face and the positive difference the Irish Cancer Society makes to them in their time of need’.
The CEO of the Irish Heart Foundation, Tim Collins, said Mrs O’Kelly’s ‘extraordinary bequest’ has given the foundation many new options to pursue. He said the money will be used to focus on childhood obesity, which is ‘the single greatest threat to the cardio vascular health of our nation’.