Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Marie Keating Foundation were forced to cancel or postpone all of their fundraising events – a critical blow to the cancer support organisation. The Foundation does not receive any government funding and relies heavily on the money that is raised through its own fundraising activity, and through events organised by other individuals and organisations.
Roche Ireland has a long-standing relationship with the Marie Keating Foundation, and saw that there was an opportunity to support the charity in a public appeal for help.
Through a targeted media campaign, FleishmanHillard highlighted the impact donations have on the important services the Marie Keating Foundation provide to cancer patients and survivors, as well as their friends and families. Leveraging the Foundation’s relationship with Ronan Keating, a strong media result was secured across print, online and broadcast media. Bringing the issue to the national stage, Ronan Keating discussed the issues faced by the Foundation on Virgin Media’s Ireland AM via Skype, and he and his wife Storm were remote guests on RTÉ’s The Late Late Show.
The Marie Keating Foundation experienced an increase in donations that will go directly towards their services and supports for cancer patients and survivors. In recent months, the Foundation have taken proactive steps to adapt some of its services in line with the restrictions, such as putting face to face support services online.
By: Orlaith Fitzgerald
Senior Client Executive, Healthcare Team
