Charity named as one of five official GAA projects for 2013
Partnership is the start rather than the culmination of a plan
Key ways in which the two sides will work together
Fighting Blindness was announced at Croke Park yesterday as one of the five official GAA charities for 2013. The benefits will include a raised level of awareness, significant fundraising opportunities through centrally organised events and a direct grant in the region of €20,000.
The awareness element was kicked off by a ‘blindfold challenge’ where stars of the game and the Association were invited to experience for a moment the challenge of sight loss by undertaking a skills challenge while wearing a mask.
The phrase ‘could do it with their eyes closed’ was proven to be somewhat inaccurate but Sinead Finnegan of Dublin Ladies Football (pictured above) and Pat Fox, one time legend of Tipperary hurling did enough to secure prizes supplied by Under Armour.
The charity has experience of working within sport having been a long time partner of the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Leopardstown.
It will put that to good work in a number of specific events as part of the relationship with the GAA. This understanding of a partnership as the start rather than the culmination of a project was highlighted as one of the major factors in the relationship between sport and Charity at the Sport for Business Round Table on the subject held in January.
These will include a major presence at Croke Park on the All Ireland Semi Final dates of August 18th and September 1st; All Ireland Final ticket draws being promoted among members and supporters; a quiz night being hosted by the Gaelic Writers Association in November and a charity match, likely to be between politicians and media as part of the FBD Kilmacud Crokes 7’s tournament in September.
In addition to a financial benefits, Fighting Blindness welcomed the partnership as a platform to highlight the growing numbers of people living with sight loss in Ireland, currently around 225,000, and raise the profile of the ongoing work of the charity to cure blindness, support people living with sight loss and empower patients.
Former Tipperary minor hurler Peter Ryan was present at the launch and told of his returning home from training at the age of 20 believing he needed contact lenses only to discover he was losing his sight in one eye.
“Fighting Blindness has funded more than 40 research projects over the last thirty years,” said Tony Ward, Head of Fundraising at Fighting Blindness. “We have invested over €10 million into finding treatments and cures for blindness. In addition we continue to provide support to those currently affected by sight loss through our Insight Counselling Centre and our extensive advocacy and patient empowerment activities.”
“Many flagship research projects are now reaching clinical trial stage, so, for the first time in history, treatments for sight loss are within our grasp.”
“The GAA is a fantastic organisation who we are delighted to be working with and we are sincerely grateful for their support which brings us one step closer to finding a cure.”
“The GAA has an active policy to support charities and we are pleased to be in a position to help the excellent work that Fighting Blindness do,” added Páraic Duffy, GAA Director General.
The other four charities for the period 2013/2014 were named at Croke Park in April.
Discover more of our analysis of the GAA, Sport and Charity and Sport for Business Round Tables by clicking on the images below:
GAA Assists in Fighting Blindness
