Emma Fogarty, Debra Ireland Patient Ambassador, joins Leinster players, clockwise from top left, Jamison Gibson Park, Noel Reid, Dominic Ryan, James Tracy, Tom Daly, Isa Nacewa, Hayden Triggs, Adam Byrne, and Peter Dooley at Leinster Rugby HQ. Picture: Cody Glenn/Sportsfile.

Win trip to Leinster game while helping two charities

To celebrate Leinster rugby’s new charity partners Debra Ireland and Aware, Joe Walsh Tours is giving ten groups of two people the chance to travel with the boys in blue to Glasgow for their first Pro 12 away game of the season on Saturday 10th September.

20 lucky Leinster fans will fly to Glasgow with the players on the team plane and enjoy tickets, transfers, food and accommodation in a package that is sure to get the season off to a flier.

If you have ever wanted the chance to immerse yourself in the matchday experience and experience what it’s like to go into battle for the province, this unique opportunity is for you.

This competition is open to all, and entering couldn’t be simpler – just text LEINSTER to 50300 and you and a friend could be part of the 20 winners who will get a unique insight into the Leinster rugby environment.

Entries cost €4, and all fees will go towards Leinster’s new two-year charity partners Debra Ireland and Aware.

Debra Ireland is the national charity supporting people with the incredibly painful skin condition epidermolysis bullosa (EB), sometimes known as butterfly skin.

This rare genetic condition causes the skin layers and internal body linings to blister and wound at the slightest touch.

And due to the presence of constant wounds, patients with severe forms of EB are susceptible to a very aggressive form of skin cancer, from as early as their teenage years. For children born with EB even the simplest knock can be catastrophic – ruling out rugby or any other contact sports.

At present there is no known cure for EB and the only form of treatment is constant painful bandaging of skin.

Debra Ireland (debraireland.org) offers a whole range of services for EB patients and their families including family support workers, nursing assistance, advice and advocacy

Aware (aware.ie) is the national organisation working since 1985 to provide support, education and information around depression and bipolar disorder.

The organisation also provides positive mental health education programmes, which each year reach 30,000 students aged 15-18; 3,000 employees in workplaces nationwide, and 2,500 adults who are dealing with the impact of stress, anxiety or challenging life situations.

Depression is estimated to affect more than 450,000 people in Ireland at any one time, while 40,000 people experience bipolar disorder.

Aware also offers support to people who care about someone who is managing one of these conditions.

'Joe Walsh Tours is proud to act as the official tour operator to Leinster Rugby and for the season ahead we are looking forward to also working with Leinster’s chosen charity partners, Aware and Debra Ireland,” said Cormac Walsh of Joe Walsh Tours.

“In lending our support we hope to help them raise much needed funds to continue their great work.”
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* Text costs €4. DEBRA Ireland and Aware will receive a minimum of €3.25.

** One text = One entry. Winner will be randomly selected and notified by phone call on Tuesday 6th September, 12pm. If winner can't be reached by 2pm, a new winner will be picked. Entrants' details will not be entered into a promotional database. Competition closes on 5th September at 5pm. Entrants must be 18+, have a valid passport and be available to travel on Friday 9th September 2016.

For full competition rules please see www.debraireland.org/leinstercompetition.