At any one time, there are 1,400 critically ill children in Ireland with an additional 400 seriously ill children diagnosed each year. Through the normal community engagement duties of local Gardaí they are often in a position to identify families with children that have serious illness in their own Districts who require assistance.
Little Blue Heroes is a not-for-profit charitable foundation established by Garda staff which aims to support local Gardaí in providing financial assistance to families with children that have serious illness who are in need. In addition, the foundation aims to provide Garda themed distraction toys, activity books, and children’s events (e.g. Garda for a Day) for the children they support.
The Little Blue Heroes foundation receives no state funding whatsoever and relies entirely on fundraisers and events organised by members of An Garda Síochána and others in the community to support the many families who need it.
The Little Blue Heroes foundation focuses completely on providing practical help for families who have exhausted all other avenues of assistance. The foundation believes that no family should have to face any added financial stress when they are already struggling to cope with the devastation and trauma of a critically ill child.