Join the RIAC ‘Virtual’ Picnic in the Park on Wednesday, 22nd July

Dear Members, 

Dare we say it, we appear to be slowly emerging from the worst effects of COVID-19. But for those who have suffered loss and pain, this may never go away. And yet we must continue to provide help and support to all those who are still struggling to cope with many other difficulties that existed before the advent of this pandemic and continue to exist today.

Over the years, you have helped us raise thousands of euro for LauraLynn, Ireland’s Children’s Hospice, through our annual “ RIAC Picnic in the Park”. This year, we are delighted to be supported by our colleagues in Motorsport Ireland. 

Once again, we seek your help and support for those in LauraLynn who provide outstanding service to ensure Ireland’s only hospice for children with life-limiting conditions can continue to operate at the highest level possible for those most vulnerable in our lives. Click here to learn more about LauraLynn

Unfortunately, we cannot host a group physical “Picnic in the Park” opportunity this year as our planned event on 22nd July in Marlay Park, Dublin, like so many other events, has been cancelled. Instead, we are hosting a virtual Picnic on the planned date of 22nd July.  
So how can you join in? You have three opportunities:

1. Host a real picnic with your family on or before Wednesday, 22nd July and email your photos to info@riac.ie. Include your cherished car or motorcycle in the image provided and we will post this on our website. Then please donate at www.lauralynn.ie/donate using the reference 'Picnic'.  We will award a small prize to the photo that best captures the spirit of the occasion.

2. Post a photo of your family picnic on Wednesday, 22nd July to your Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram profile with the hashtag #VirtualPicnicInthePark. Then please submit your donation at www.lauralynn.ie/donate using the reference 'Picnic'.

3. Without hosting a picnic, but you would still like to help, then please submit your donation at www.lauralynn.ie/donate using the reference 'Picnic'. 

Sarah Meagher, Head of Fundraising at LauraLynn said: ''We are so grateful to the RIAC and Motorsport Ireland for supporting our work here in LauraLynn. As we navigate through this global pandemic it is so heart-warming to see supporters and fundraisers adapting their events to fit our new virtual world. Now, more than ever, every donation counts, and we want to thank all those involved in this special event for helping us to help the 220 families across Ireland who rely on our services.”

Peter Cosgrave, RIAC organiser for Picnic in the Park said: “LauraLynn is a wonderful organisation that provides compassionate care and support to children and their families. We at the RIAC have been delighted to support its efforts over the past 14 years thanks to the generosity of our members. This year is different for us all but LauraLynn needs our support more than ever. Please find in it your hearts to donate.”

John Naylor, President of Motorsport Ireland said: “We are delighted to support our close colleagues in the RIAC in promoting this fantastic and innovative virtual event. LauraLynn is an incredibly important charity and I would urge those within the Motorsport community and further afield to donate what they can to this worthwhile cause.”

We do not know when this pandemic will end – no one does. But, in the meantime, can we continue to make a difference to those children who need it most?

Yes, we can!

Sincerely yours,

Arthur Collier, 
Chairman, RIAC