Annual fundraiser for Irish Wheelchair Association takes place next week

The Irish Wheelchair Association's (IWA) annual fundraising day is taking place across Ireland next Thursday, September 24, with the Waterford branch hitting the streets to collect vital funds.

Members, staff and volunteers will be out and around Waterford City collecting vital funds for the supports and activities IWA provides in Waterford and across the country.

The IWA provide a range of education, social, recreation and personal development opportunities for people with disabilities in Waterford, which they cannot do without public funding and support.

Nora Goodwin, a member of the IWA in Waterford for the past twelve years said the support from the IWA over the past decade has been invaluable.

“Everyone is so friendly here," she said, "Everything is great. We have a great laugh, we play cards, we drink tea, we play scrabble...and it's just, they're like family."

In collaboration with Sailing into Wellness, members of IWA Waterford took to the seas earlier this year aboard the Saoirse wheelchair-accessible boat, where the members had the great opportunity to tour the beautiful coastline of Waterford and Wexford, basking in the summer heat.

Nora visits the centre in Waterford twice a week, and said what sticks out about the place for her is how they treated her during the various COVID-19 isolation periods, when members and staff would come by every week to sit outside together and have a chat.

“I’ve met such lovely people through the IWA since my stroke," she continued, "They have been my lifeline. They’ve helped me through it all.”

IWA Waterford runs a weekly service in its Community Centre for members from across the county, as well as a school leavers service for young people with disabilities where they can socialise, develop their skills and work towards employment opportunities.

The Irish Wheelchair Association is hoping to raise €40,000 to support the organisation’s work locally and across the country during next week’s fundraiser.

Last year the organisation provided 87,080 days of community services through its 48 community centres and 17 outreach centres nationwide, alongside its assisted living services in homes across the country.

“If you see us out collecting, please come and say hello,” said Ferelith Jane Kingston, Community Fundraising and Events Co-ordinator with the IWA. “Selected Aldi stores across the country will have on-street collections on the day."

"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.”