Barretstown campers want you to offer a virtual hug

The contribution can be made by text and helps children and their families living with serious illnesses.

The group have created a new online platform for families, with programmes delivered every Saturday to help children through the current pandemic.

It also broadcasts through Facebook live broadcasts taking place every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 12pm to 2pm.

"We have created a studio down at Barretstown and every Saturday morning, we deliver programmes that run from 10am to 4pm into the homes of those children and families who were due to come to Barretstown," said Dee Ahern, CEO of Barretstown.

"In advance of them taking part in the programme, we sent out a Barretstown Live kit and that contains everything that they need to participate in the programme on Saturday."

The charity say it allows young people who suffer from serious illnesses to take part in bakery and arts and crafts.

The idea is to help their fundraising after a number of planned events were cancelled.

"We've launched a hug campaign which we feel at this time everyone needs a virtual hug," said Ms Ahern.

"We are encouraging everyone to text the word HUG to 50300 to make a donation to Barretstown or to check out any of our social channels and to share our Barretstown hug with people that they love and maybe haven't seen for some time."

Last year, Barretstown served over 9,000 campers affected by serious illness and their families.

[snippet1]987600[/snippet1]