"It’s my outlet. I meet all my friends here. I do my hobby here. I love it each day that I come, otherwise I’m left sitting at home."  Dubliner Anne Jordan speaking about the impact Irish Wheelchair Association has on her life, ahead of our annual fundraising day which takes place on Thursday September 28th,

In towns and cities across the country our members and supporters will be out shaking buckets to raise vital funds for our association, including Anne.

Over 20,000 people benefit from services provided by IWA across sport, accessible homes, transport, assisted living services, advocacy and our young adult services. 

Our community centres the length and breadth of Ireland, of which there are almost 60, are the heartbeat of our organisation providing a social outlet for members to make friends and develop lifelong skills as well as combatting loneliness and isolation. 

One of those members, Geraldine Murphy admits she wouldn’t know what she would do with herself if she didn’t have the centre in Clontarf in Dublin to go to.  

“If I wasn’t here, I’d be sitting at home looking at the four walls, she said.” 

She attends the knitting and crocheting class on a Tuesday morning, or as the ladies jokingly refer to it as the ‘stitch ‘n bitch’! 

Anne Jordan, Geraldine Murphy and Josie Hennelly enjoy their knitting and their catch up at IWA Clontarf

“The banter is great, everyone looks out for each other, said Geraldine. 

The laughter coming from the room paints a picture of an incredibly happy place. 

Josie Hennelly said: ‘I have been coming years, I like it a lot. I enjoy mixing with people and I enjoy the craic. It is nice to have a routine to your life.’ 

Anne Jordan is hoping to be out shaking a bucket on Fundraising Day. 

She talks about IWA being such a huge part of her life and how she looks forward every week to meeting up with all the other members and the staff in Clontarf, who she says are just so supportive. 

  “They tell me I’m part of the furniture at this stage. It’s my outlet. I meet all my friends here. I do my hobby here. I love it each day that I come, otherwise I’m left sitting at home. 

 “It cheers me up every time I come in the door” 

Breige McGinn, Acting Head of Fundraising with IWA, said that Thursday’s fundraising Day is vital to the work of IWA and the services provided. 

“I want to thank all those who support our day including the volunteers and staff who give up their time to collect and of course those who drop money in our buckets. Every little helps, it all adds up.”