FUNDRAISING
The Waterford Branch of Down Syndrome Ireland is wholly funded by our own fundraising activities and donations – with the exception of generous grant aid from the Waterford Youth Committee [link] and Waterford City Childcare Committee [link] to fund our Music Therapy programme [link]. We have forged relationships with some great organisations to arrange novel fundraising activities throughout the year. Some of these activities are detailed below
Tour-de-Munster
The Tour de Munster is an annual four-day 600Km charity cycle race which tours all of the Munster counties each August. Participants in the event each collect individual sponsorship and the tour is accompanied by volunteers who leverage the event with collections in the cities, towns and villages long the route. Everyone participating in the event covers their own costs and all funds raised go directly to the beneficiary charity. DSI has been the beneficiary of the tour since 2010 and all funds raised are distributed equally among all of the Munster branches. The Tour, which raised almost €250,000 in 2011, is becoming an extremely high profile event which attracts both corporate as well as generous public donations. The branch undertakes street collections along the route of the tour on the day it passes through West Waterford, but also in Waterford, Dungarvan, Tramore, and other locations on the weekends either side of the tour.
As part of our Tour de Munster fundraising event, we will be bucket shaking on the following dates;
15th July 2012 – Dungarvan
9th August 2012 – Lismore and Tallow
18th August 2012 – Waterford City
19th August 2012 – Tramore
Honey Days
The Honey Days campaign is a key part of Down Syndrome Ireland’s fundraising calendar. Funds raised from the campaign are shared between the National organisation and local branches. During the month of October, mini pots of Boyne Valley honey and tokens are sold by branch members and volunteers. You can also buy a Virtual Honey Pot from the National DSI website or you can text Honey to 57252. We would like to thank Boyne Valley for their continued generous sponsorship of this event.
Watch out for our stands at all major Supermarkets in the Waterford area during October 2012, where we will be selling Boyne valley Honey and Tokens as part of our National Honey Days Fundraising event
Night at The Dogs
This nationwide event is run in conjunction with the Irish Greyhound Board and all proceeds are shared between the National organisation and local branches . This unique event offers individuals, companies and families a great night of fun and entertainment with monies raised going to support a great cause. It is run in February at all of the major greyhound racing tracks around the country. Family tickets for the night cost just €20 (2 adults and up to 4 children) and individual tickets €10.
Many thanks to all who supported our Night at the Dogs in Kilcohan Park on Saturday 25th February, which was a great success.