Nine years ago, Tom Donnellan’s situation, at home caring for his dying wife and caring for his young daughters, provided the impetus to set up Light Relief. Now, as if to prove that lightning does indeed strike twice, Light Relief is once again helping Tom, as he not only battles with his own cancer, but also copes with effectively being on the ‘dole’ as the company he worked with closed down.
On hearing that Tom was in need of immediate assistance to cope with day to day living, the trustees of Light Relief had no hesitation in stepping forward with a ‘no strings attached’ grant. Rick Fisher, co-founder of Light Relief, said: “This is exactly the type of situation for which Light Relief was formed. Tom is receiving chemotherapy, which leaves him extremely tired and unable to work and although he received help from social services, this was for a limited time only and has now stopped. While normally we would guide the recipient as to how a monetary grant should be spent, in this situation we felt that Tom should be free to decide how best to use the money.”
Light Relief is a charity established by and for the entertainment lighting industry, to help in times of extreme hardship. Formed specifically to help theatre lighting designers and those working in the field who are not in regular full time employment, Light Relief can provide either practical support or financial help, depending on the individual need.
If you know someone who needs help, or if you need help for yourself or your family, contact any of the trustees who are listed on the Light Relief website. If you would like to make a donation, this can be done either through the website, or by contacting:
Shane McGreevy,
Finance Director,
PLASA,
Redoubt House,
1 Edward Road,
Eastbourne,
BN23 8AS
Tel: 01323 524120
Leave a Reply