THE IRISH PILGRIMAGE TRUST have just returned from their annual Easter trip to Lourdes.
The Trust make the journey each year and the Donegal Branch of the Irish Pilgrimage Trust was again well represented.
The Donegal Branch is this year celebrating its 30th anniversary and is one of the two benefitting charities from this weekend’s North-West 10k.
The Irish Pilgrimage Trust brings 500n young people with special needs to Lourdes every Easter. The Trust also hosts Summer Camps called Friendship Weeks in Kilcuan in Galway and Cois Cuain in Wexford.
The Trust also provides regular respite holidays during the year for young disabled people at specially designed houses in Galway and Wexford.
“We’re thrilled to be involved with the North West 10k – it’s a special year for us as we’re celebrating our 30th anniversary,” said Irish Pilgrimage Trust member Mary Dunnion.
“We’re completely honoured. It’s fantastic for us.
[adrotate group=”37″]“We’re a small organisation locally. It’s big nationally, but this is fantastic to get the word out there about us.”
Every year, the Donegal Branch has to raise €14,500 just for the week in Lourdes, but as Dunnion explains it’s an important week for a whole variety of reasons.
She said: “It’s the only respite for the families. We have 11 young people in each grounp, a leader, a nurse, a doctor and a chaplin as well as volunteers.
“The money goes directly to funding the young people. Respite services have been cut so much which means this is so important and we are so grateful to be involved.
“We completely fundraise for the charity. We make sure that the young people travel for free, whereas the volunteers and helpers all pay themselves. The young people sometimes can’t afford it so that’s where we come in to help.
“We’ll meet them three of four times beforehand to get to know them and for them to get to know us. We do assessments to see what their needs are. It’s a one-to-one basis so they are really well looked after.
“Some of the children are high dependency, but the people we have are fantastic and we wouldn’t do this if we didn’t enjoy it. It’s a fantastic week.
“The young people have all different personalities and the craic is brilliant.”
The local helpers each pay €650 to make the trip to assist the children.
Dunnion added: “It’s a week away, but it’s a big responsibility. They don’t mind at all, though.”
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