| <span style='font-size:12pt'><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><span style='font-size:10.5pt'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Munster Rugby have announcedthat Cliona’s Foundation and the Irish Cancer Society havebeen selected as the club’s nominated charities for the2018/19 season.</span></span></span></span> <span style='font-size:12pt'><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><span style='font-size:10.5pt'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><span style='color:inherit'><span style='font-weight:inherit'><span style='line-height:inherit'><span style='text-decoration:inherit'>Overthe season Munster Rugby will work closely with each charity,actively supporting them in helping raise awareness and funds formuch-needed resources that are widely availed of across theprovince andIreland.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> <span style='font-size:12pt'><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><span style='font-size:10.5pt'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><span style='color:inherit'><span style='font-weight:inherit'><span style='line-height:inherit'><span style='text-decoration:inherit'>Themission for Cliona’s Foundation is to provide financialassistance for all families struggling to care for children with alife-limiting condition. Based in Limerick, the charity hasprovided assistance to families all across thecountry.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> <span style='font-size:12pt'><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><span style='font-size:10.5pt'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><span style='color:inherit'><span style='font-weight:inherit'><span style='line-height:inherit'><span style='text-decoration:inherit'>TheIrish Cancer Society, with services in place across the province,has grown into the national charity for cancer care, the leadingprovider of all information relating to cancer prevention,detection, treatment andsupport.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> <span style='font-size:12pt'><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><span style='font-size:10.5pt'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><span style='color:inherit'><span style='font-weight:inherit'><span style='line-height:inherit'><span style='text-decoration:inherit'>Bothcharities joined Munster and Ireland players Conor Murray, KeithEarls and Ian Keatley at the University of Limerick training basethis week to launch the newpartnership.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> <span style='font-size:12pt'><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><span style='font-size:10.5pt'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><span style='color:inherit'><span style='font-weight:inherit'><span style='line-height:inherit'><span style='text-decoration:inherit'>“We are privileged and excited tohave been selected as a Charity Partner for the 2018/2019season,” said Brendan Ring, Co-Founder of Cliona’sFoundation.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> <span style='font-size:12pt'><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><span style='font-size:10.5pt'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><span style='color:inherit'><span style='font-weight:inherit'><span style='line-height:inherit'><span style='text-decoration:inherit'>“The Munster Rugby brand and familyof backroom team, players and supporters is very special and uniqueand, on a personal level, an experience we have enjoyed for manyyears. Being an extended part of this family with a worldwideprofile and support is a huge honour for Cliona’sFoundation.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> <span style='font-size:12pt'><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><span style='font-size:10.5pt'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><span style='color:inherit'><span style='font-weight:inherit'><span style='line-height:inherit'><span style='text-decoration:inherit'>"We arelooking forward to working with Munster Rugby on raising awarenessof the hidden financial struggles families of sick children endureand how Cliona’s Foundation supportsthem.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> <span style='font-size:12pt'><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><span style='font-size:10.5pt'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><span style='color:inherit'><span style='font-weight:inherit'><span style='line-height:inherit'><span style='text-decoration:inherit'>“Our hope is that this increasedprofile and awareness will result in much-needed funds beinggenerated to enable us to continue provide thisservice.”</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> <span style='font-size:12pt'><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><span style='font-size:10.5pt'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><span style='color:inherit'><span style='font-weight:inherit'><span style='line-height:inherit'><span style='text-decoration:inherit'>AverilPower, CEO of the Irish Cancer Society, said: “The IrishCancer Society is delighted to be chosen as Munster Rugby’scharity partner for 2018/2019. Over 40,000 people get a cancerdiagnosis in Ireland annually and as an independent charity we relyalmost entirely on donations to provide vital services to ensure noone faces canceralone.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> <span style='font-size:12pt'><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><span style='font-size:10.5pt'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><span style='color:inherit'><span style='font-weight:inherit'><span style='line-height:inherit'><span style='text-decoration:inherit'>“This includes crucial care likethe Night Nursing service, which enables cancer patients at the endof life to be cared for at home. Partnering with Munster Rugby willhelp us raise further awareness about the funding needed for ourservices and lifesaving cancer research, so that we can find betterways to diagnose and treat cancer, so that more people survive thisdisease.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> <span style='font-size:12pt'><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><span style='font-size:10.5pt'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><span style='color:inherit'><span style='font-weight:inherit'><span style='line-height:inherit'><span style='text-decoration:inherit'>“The support will help us topromote cancer prevention initiatives in the community, empoweringmembers of the public to reduce their own risk of cancer. We lookforward to working with Munster Rugby on behalf of all thoseaffected by cancer. Together, we won’t give up until cancerdoes.”</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> <span style='font-size:12pt'><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><span style='font-size:10.5pt'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><span style='color:inherit'><span style='font-weight:inherit'><span style='line-height:inherit'><span style='text-decoration:inherit'>Commenting on the announcement ClaireCooke, Munster Rugby Corporate Social Responsibility Manager, said:“We are very much looking forward to working withCliona’s Foundation and the Irish Cancer Society for theseasonahead.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> <span style='font-size:12pt'><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><span style='font-size:10.5pt'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><span style='color:inherit'><span style='font-weight:inherit'><span style='line-height:inherit'><span style='text-decoration:inherit'>“The process to select thecharities was as challenging as ever with so many worthy causeslooking for our support. We hope to make a real difference forCliona’s Foundation and the Irish Cancer Society and aredelighted to be partnering withthem.”</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> |
