Navone Education raise money for Cians Kennels in honour of their 'hero' Zara

When Navone Education presented 'Fairies - a Play for Children' last April, it had long been in their minds that Zara Witherow had been fighting cancer. 

This week, following the passing of the 10-year-old from Tawley,​​​​​​​ ​​​​​​​Castlegal, Co Leitrim​, they remembered their friend.

“Zara had been part of our troupe before Covid struck,” they said. “The utter helplessness that strikes a person, looking on from the outside, as a child takes on this evil disease is awful. But it pales into insignificance when the person’s family is considered. 

“Nothing compares to the effect it has on the child.  Zara’s fate was at odds with the life she lived. Full of life and devilment, with a sparkle in her eye that lit up whatever room she was in, with a spirit that was infectious, she was meant to be on stage. At the age of seven her command of a script was effortless. 

“Her ability to become a character was innate. As children love to play, the play is loved by children. So, Zara enjoyed the stage experience. The tragic circumstances surrounding her struggle with the disease and the incredible physical cost involved, moved us to contact Zara’s Dad Mark to ask him how we could use the profits from the show we put on. Without hesitation, he urged us to support Cian’s Kennels.  During Zara’s treatment in the Children’s Hospital in Crumlin, she was separated from the comforts of home. 

“While a child can count on the endless affection of her parents and family often they miss the consolation and comfort of their pet given the strictures of hospital life. Zara would have missed her beautiful dog Micah, a Norwegian Elk Hound. 

“However due to the Charity set up in 2019 by the family of Cian Neary who dies of cancer in 2019, Zara could be with Micah on a regular basis during treatment at the hospital. 

“Cians Kennels was set up to look after the pets of children suffering from serious illnesses, giving them access to their beloved animals while they were hospitalised. Whenever required, a volunteer driver would collect the pet and keep it in kennels (also known as The DSPCA  Hotel), outside the hospital, while the child was in care. The Fairies realised a profit of €720. Navone Education was delighted to hand over a cheque in that amount to Cians Kennels in honour of our hero, Zara.”