Tipperary member speaks about the positive impact of Irish Wheelchair Association
A member of the Tipperary IWA appeals for support ahead of the organisation’s Annual Fundraising Day
Irish Wheelchair Association's (IWA) Annual Fundraising Day is taking place across Ireland this Thursday, September 24, including Tipperary.
Members, staff and volunteers will be hitting the streets collecting vital funds for the supports and activities IWA provides across Tipperary, and nationwide.
IWA has a strong presence in Tipperary town and county, providing a range of education, social, recreation, sporting and personal development opportunities for adults with disabilities.
As well as its busy Day Service in both Tipperary Town and Roscrea, IWA operates a School Leavers Service in Fethard Town Park, supporting young adults. The organisation has a day service once a week in Nenagh and also provides an Assisted Living service across the county while its Supported Living Service provides support to five members in Cashel.
Susan Power attends IWA’s Community Centre in Tipperary Town and admits that she would be absolutely lost if it wasn’t for IWA.
She said: “To be honest IWA means the world to me. It gets me out of the house, and it gets me socialising. All my friends are part of the group, we are all in the same boat, we understand and support each other. It is so important to me. We are like a family”.
Susan, who joined about ten years ago after being diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, added: “Before I came to IWA I had started to close myself off, I was very isolated. The staff are so good, they feel like family as well.”
IWA hopes to raise €40,000 to support its work locally and across the country. Last year the organisation provided 87,080 days of community services through its 48 community centres and 17 outreach centres nationwide.
It also delivered assisted living services in homes across the country and supported 19 IWA Sports Clubs, including Tipperary Warriors, while its 142 accessible buses supported with IWA-transport services.
Susan Power will be amongst the Tipperary crew shaking those collection buckets on September 24.
She said: “It’s so important to support events like this. I do it every year and will do it every year as long as I am physically able to. I have been out in all kinds of weather but for me it is some way of giving back to the organisation. If only the general public really knew the difference IWA makes to our lives day to day. It probably doesn’t cross most people’s mind how important a service like this until you need it.”
“I value also the advocacy side of IWA too,” she said, pointing out that it is so important for people with disabilities to campaign for their rights and needs.
The organisation relies on donations to develop, grow and continue to support its members who want to be active, social, and live a life of choice and independence.
“If you see us out collecting, please come and say hello,” said Ferelith Kingston, Community Fundraising and Events Co-ordinator with 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.”