Irish Wheelchair Association has been forced to cancel its annual street collection due to the COVID-19 pandemic
With over 20,000 members, Irish Wheelchair Association must raise €3 million in funds every year in
order to be able continue providing its essential services for its members.
As a result of COVID-19, the charity has had to cancel its on-street fundraising for the first time in thirty years. Instead, the charity has taken its appeal online launching a campaign called 'Without You, We're Stuck,' highlighting the importance of fundraising for the organisation and calling on the public to donate.
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From providing wheelchair accessible buses in lieu of public transport, children’s sports clubs, community centres and many other vital services, Irish Wheelchair Association relies on the generosity of the public to help fund its work supporting 4,000 people with physical disabilities every week across the whole country.
The charity's aim from the very beginning has always been to achieve full inclusion and integration of people with physical disabilities as equal and independent members of society and it relies on the generosity of supporters to ensure that it can continue to not only maintain, but to develop the range and quality of the services it's providing to members.
Sarah Joyce, Head of Fundraising at Irish Wheelchair Association, said:
"The loss of this critical income is concerning at a time when our local fundraising events have already had to stop. We estimate that we will have lost almost €1 million in fundraising income by the end of the year. Without this support, our services and the people we support, will be stuck.
We are all in this together as we face this pandemic and we are committed to protecting public health and that of our members and volunteers... Our services are needed now, more than ever. We would be incredibly grateful if people could remember their local Irish Wheelchair Association centre this week and make a donation through our website."
To support Irish Wheelchair Association’s ‘Without You We’re Stuck’ appeal visit: www.iwa.ie/stuck.
