GAA announces list of Official Charities
GAA announces list of Official Charities
The GAA has announced its list of official charities for the year ahead.
Five charities from around the country and representing a range of different causes were selected by the Association to be charity partners for this year.
The charities were unveiled at a special photo call at Croke Park earlier today. The charities are The Alzheimer Society of Ireland, The Asthma Society of Ireland, Breakthrough Cancer Research, Cystic Fibrosis Ireland and Make-A-Wish® Ireland.
Each of the designated charities will receive a €20,000 donation from the GAA. This is part of an on-going GAA initiative stretching back to 2010 that has seen the GAA select a number of specific charitable organisations and foundations each year in a bid to assist them in raising awareness about their work and also champion them in their fund-raising efforts throughout the coming year.
Aogán Ó Fearghail, Uachtarán CLG, said: “We are delighted to announce the latest list of most worthy charities for our support and assistance in 2017.
”The volunteer ethos, the spirit of community and the sense of giving are core values at the heart of what makes the GAA great, and is something we share with these charities.
“The Alzheimer Society of Ireland, Asthma Society of Ireland, Breakthrough Cancer Research, Cystic Fibrosis Ireland and Make A Wish Ireland are five diverse charities covering a range of conditions - but are united by the common goal of trying to change people’s lives for the better.
“I look forward to seeing these five charities benefit and prosper from their link with the GAA over the coming year, and we look forward to helping and supporting them in the extraordinary work that they do.”
TheAlzheimer Society of Ireland
The Alzheimer Society of Ireland works across the country in the heart of local communities providing dementia specific services and supports and advocating for the rights and needs of all people living with dementia and their carers.
Each year the organisation provides more than one million hours of community-based dementia-specific care throughout Ireland.
The ASI is person-centred, rights-based and grassroots led with the voice of the person with dementia and their carer at its core.
There are approximately 55,000 people living with dementia in Ireland and this number is expected to increase significantly in the coming years. For more information, visit http://www.alzheimer.ie or national helpline: 1 800 341 341.
The Asthma Society of Ireland
The Asthma Society of Ireland represents the 470,000 Irish people with asthma.
It helps save lives and improve the lives of people with asthma by providing asthmatics with the information and support they need to manage their condition better, educating parents, teachers, sports coaches and others about how to support people with asthma, providing training for healthcare professionals, lobbying the Government to improve services for people with asthma and supporting research into the causes and treatment of asthma.
The Society runs a free Asthma Advice-line service (1800 44 54 64). For more information, visit www.asthma.ie
Breakthrough Cancer Research
Breakthrough Cancer Research is an Irish medical cancer research charity established to inspire and enable financial support for exceptional research into cancer in Ireland leading to more effective treatments for patients.
Our focus is on funding world-class research into poor prognosis cancers, which
are poorly served by current treatment options, facilitating collaboration between scientists and clinicians across Ireland and internationally and translating lab discoveries into new effective treatments for cancer patients now and into the future. For more information, visit https://www.breakthroughcancerresearch.ie
Cystic Fibrosis Ireland
Cystic Fibrosis Ireland is the leading national organisation dedicated to improving the quality of life of people with cystic fibrosis and their families across Ireland. It does this through providing information, advice and advocacy to people and their families, offering grant assistance, undertaking research, funding state-of-the-art dedicated cystic fibrosis health facilities, and advancing the development of lung transplantation in Ireland.
Cystic Fibrosis—or CF—is Ireland’s most common life-threatening inherited disease. CF is a genetic disorder. It is not contagious, rather people are born with it. Approximately 1 in 19 people are carriers of the CF gene and when two carriers have a child there is a one in four chance of a child being born with it. CF affects the glands, damaging many organs including the lungs, pancreas, digestive tract and reproductive system, impacting breathing, digestion and reproduction. It causes thick sticky mucus to be produced, blocking the bronchial tubes and preventing the body's natural enzymes from digesting food. Ireland has the highest prevalence and the most severe types of cystic fibrosis in the world. For more information, visit www.cfireland.ie
Make-A-Wish® Ireland
Make-A-Wish Ireland is an organisation with its roots in each community and every parish across Ireland. From cities to townlands in each county, you will meet families and hear stories about the incredible wishes that have been granted to some of Ireland’s bravest children. Make-A-Wish Ireland grants the wishes of children aged between 3-17 years living with life-threatening illnesses. As with the sport and comradery of the GAA, our wishes bring hope, strength and joy to families and make memories that will last many lifetimes. Make-A-Wish Ireland receives no government funding, therefore partnership with a national organisation like the GAA is a vital source of support and awareness around Ireland for which we and our incredible wish children are so grateful. For more information, visit www.makeawish.ie