Spotlight on Annual Fundraising Day
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Annual Fundraising Day takes place on Thursday September 24th and if you have a few hours to spare, we’d love you be part of IWA’s team of fundraisers on the day, collecting in the area where you live.
Two members who are no strangers to shaking those collection buckets are Abby Smyth and Eoin Kiely, who are part of our Galway School Leavers Service. They will be out again this year, always keen to lend their time in appreciation of the support they get from IWA.
Abby credits the IWA School Leaver Service in Briarhill, Galway for improving her life in so many ways.
“I never left the house unless it was in a car before I came to IWA. Now I use public transport and go on trips away. Everyone’s story is different, but everyone’s story comes back to the same support we get at IWA,” she said.
Eoin concurs: “Before I came here I never really went out very much. I wasn’t really talking to anyone outside my family. I was living a remote life. The number of trips I have been on and experiences I’ve had since joining IWA three years ago has been just brilliant including my first solo concert with the support of a staff member.”
"We appreciate every bit of help on the day"
Members, staff and volunteers will be hitting the streets across the country collecting vital funds for the supports and programmes IWA provides nationwide.
Ferelith Kingston, IWA’s Community Fundraising and Events Co-ordinator, said that the event would not be possible without the help of so many IWA members, staff and volunteers, including transition year students in many schools, across the country.
“We appreciate every bit of help on the day whether you can give one hour, four or more. Selected Aldi stores across the country will have on-street collections on the day and we are very grateful to Adli for their support again this year,” she said.
“We are delighted that our charity partner Chadwicks has also come onboard and will have QR codes and buckets on the counters in their stores to fundraise as part of Annual Fundraising Day. A big thank you to all the staff in Chadwicks,” Ferelith added.
IWA hopes to raise €40,000 to continue supporting people with disabilities in their communities to live a life of choice and independence. The organisation relies on donations to develop, grow and continue to support members who want to be active, social, independent and advocate for their rights.
Sligo’s Jimmy Morrisroe would like to see people backing Annual Fundraising Day so members like himself can keep getting the supports they need.
An IWA member for the past four years, Jimmy has an acquired brain injury which he sustained in a workplace accident while working in France a number of years ago.
He said: “The staff recognise me as a person, not just as a person with a disability – or as I call it, an invisible disability.”
“Come join us if you can on September 24th,” said Ferelith. “There’s always a great buzz and if you are not collecting and happen to see us do pop over and say hello.”
She added: “We appreciate any donation, big or small and if you can’t give on the day, you can donate any time on www.iwa.ie/donate.”
If you are interested in collecting on the day, please contact Ferelith on fund@iwa.ie or phone 01 818 6400
Words: Marie Kierans
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