Cannonball Run a big success

The 2013 Cannonball Run was bigger and better than ever. Carzone.ie, one of the tour's main sponsors, was along for the ride.

Cannonball Ireland is the largest organised road trip in Europe, featuring more than 150 of the world's most iconic supercar brands. The three-day motoring extravaganza (ran for 2013 from 23rd to 25th of August) typically attracts more than 100,000 spectators along the 1,000-kilometre route and this year's was no different. Not only is it a whole lot of fun for participants and onlookers alike, the Cannonball Run raises money for charity every year. This year the chosen charity was LauraLynn House (more on that below).

On Friday the Cannonballers descended on Mondello Park in Naas for the start and Ryan Tubridy himself waved the starting flag as cars from Ferrari, Lamborghini, Porsche, Aston Martin, Maserati and more roared off towards Abbeyleix and then Ballymaloe House in Co. Cork. From there the convoy took to Patrick Street in Cork City.

The next morning the supercars headed for a scenic drive via Kerry to Limerick, where they stayed overnight before gathering in Killaloe. The Cannonball Festival then took place in Cashel before the Cannonballers closed the event to the roar of exotic engines in Tullamore.

The Children's Sunshine Home in Dublin has been caring for chronically ill children and their families since the 1920s. In September 2011, Ireland's first children's Hospice, LauraLynn House, was opened on the grounds of the sunshine home in Leopardstown. There are an estimated 1,500 children living in Ireland with life-limiting conditions.

All eight beds in LauraLynn house are occupied and most of the family rooms are being used by newly referred families and families whose children are critically ill and require palliative care. It is a warm, supportive environment in which the whole family can relax and spend precious time in the hands of a team that knows and understands the needs of the sick child and those who love him or her. The facility provides accommodation for families whose children have multiple out-patient appointments in the acute children's hospitals in the city but who live far away - Cork and Kerry for example.

LauraLynn House has a very special place within its walls, the Butterfly suite - a special place where a child can spend his or her final days in comfort and peace with their family. It is hoped that LauraLynn will look after up to 300 families a year with respite support and home care to families in need.

LauraLynn House provides a 'home away from home' for very sick children with family accommodation, two playgrounds and a music room. Laura Lynn House has not, to date, received government funding. It needs €1.5m to run it annually and to ensure its long term viability. Any donations made go directly to LauraLynn House. Any donation or support, no matter how small, can make a real difference to the lives of very sick children.

To find out more visit www.sunshinehome.ie or call LauraLynn House 01 2893151.