Building a Home of Respite for Families Who Need It Most

In the southeast of Ireland, a profound vision is coming to life. Founded in memory of a little girl named Annabelle, the Annabelle’s Foundation is on a mission to create a purpose-built respite home for children with complex medical needs — and to grant their families a space of rest, connection and hope.

Who is Annabelle?

Annabelle was born in 2011 to Helena Kehoe and her family. Early in life, she was diagnosed with a rare genetic condition, endured daily seizures, and required round-the-clock care. South East Radio Though her time was brief, her impact on her family was profound: “She spoke with her eyes, and she’s still spoken about every single day in our home,” Helena shares. South East Radio Annabelle’s journey revealed a critical need: in Wexford and the southeast, many families caring for children with life-limiting illnesses have limited access to quality respite care facilities.

The Mission: Annabelle’s House

That gap is what the Foundation seeks to fill. Their aim is to build Annabelle’s House — a comfortable, purpose-built respite home where children with life-limiting or complex conditions can stay, and families can remain close by in adjacent accommodation. South East Radio In August 2025 the Foundation reached a major milestone: they secured land in the southeast to build the property. South East Radio In parallel, they launched fundraising initiatives including a “return bottle & can” scheme around the Fleadh festival in Wexford — with special orange bins placed across town and local businesses collecting for the cause. South East Radio

Why this matters

  • Caring for a child with serious illness is emotionally and physically exhausting. Respite supports not only the child but the whole family.
  • The southeast of Ireland is under-served in terms of specialist respite facilities for children with life-limiting illness.
  • A home in the region means families won’t have to travel long distances, disrupting life, to access care and relief.
  • A facility designed for their specific needs (medical, physical, emotional) offers dignity and comfort.

How you can help

  • Donate: The Foundation invites public support via their GoFundMe page for initial feasibility and build costs. Independent
  • Volunteer: They’re calling for volunteers to collect cans, help logistics, spread the word. “If you’ve got a good pair of runners and a few hours to spare, we’d love to have you,” Helena says. South East Radio
  • Share: Just by sharing the story, you amplify awareness. Many families may not know help is on the way.
  • Business partnerships: Local businesses already collecting bottles/cans; more businesses can join as sponsors or collection points. South East Radio
  • Closing:Annabelle’s Foundation is more than a building project: it’s a promise to families — that love, care and community matter; that no one should be alone in caring for a child with serious illness. By supporting this local charity, we help turn vision into home, hope into reality.