The Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus Ireland, Donegal Branch have the long-term aim of providing a location for a respite unit for its members.
The short-term aims and challenges are more straightforward. Or as straight forward as can be for a charity such as theirs.
Currently, the organisation has 35 families involved and is delighted to have been chosen as one of the beneficiaries of tomorrow’s North-West 10k in Letterkenny.
Caroline Lafferty describes herself as ‘just a mammy with a wee boy of almost eight who has both conditions’.
Jamie Lafferty was born with both Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus. Caroline Lafferty from Bruckless has been the Chairperson of the local branch and his now the Vice Chairperson with Ballybofey man Kevin Harrold now in the Chair.
“We’re the local branch of a national organisation,” Caroline says.
“We’re made up totally of volunteers and it’s just 35 families. All the families are included in the branch. It’s a support network for people just living their lives and the struggles that come up.
“It’s about the joys as well as the down days. We have a family support worker connected to the national organisation and we can refer back to her on any given day.
“It’s just about keeping the network together and pulling the resources together.
“The volunteers who come forward are the families of people who have the condition.”
On Sunday, they’ll benefit a little from the North-West 10k. The appreciation is etched on Caroline Lafferty’s face.
She said: “We’re thrilled to be accepted onto the platform of such a great fundraiser in Donegal. We’re honoured and this has really pulled us all together. We’re very excited about Sunday.
“It’s great to get the support of the committee of the North-West 10k. They’re doing the big work and we’re just falling in behind. It’s nice to get a big team to fall in behind.”
They do dream of a mobile home-type facility on a beach along the Wild Atlantic Way. For now, though, raising awareness of their existence could even go a long way in making this weekend a success.
Caroline said: “There are a lot more people who could link in with us, maybe people who just don’t have the support. Hope the awareness now might get more people to link in, even if it’s only someone on the end of the phone.”
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