A remarkable achievement.

Though she won't like me saying so, Jane Mckenna is one of the most remarkable people that I have ever met. Her achievements are all the more outstanding when you consider the circumstances that led to their realisation!

Jane and her husband Brendan suffered the unimaginable tragedy of loosing both of their young daughters Laura and Lynn, through serious illness, within two years of each other. Having experienced such trauma at home, Jane decided to dedicate her life to raising funds to build Ireland's first Children's Hospice, through the LauraLynn Children's Hospice Foundation.

After six years of tireless fundraising and with the support of some extraordinary people and the Children's Sunshine Home, she has achieved just that.

On an emotional day a few weeks ago, Jane, with the assistance of Philomena Dunne CEO of The Children's Sunshine Home, George Balmer, Chairman and Miriam O'Callaghan, patron, turned the first sod for the construction of LauraLynn House, in the grounds of the Children's Sunshine Home, on the Leopardstown Road in Dublin.

When it is complete in 2011, LauraLynn House will provide much needed family support and community based paediatric palliative and respite care. As Jane says, "Nothing can ease the pain of losing a child, but the right care can at least give quality to the child's life, however short.".

Without a doubt, Laura and Lynn would have approved!

You can find out more information about Laura Lynn House at the Children's Sunshine Home at http://www.sunshinehome.ie/hospice.html