Get your Blue Nose for Autism
Keith Duffy, patron of Irish Autism Action, led the call this week for businesses, schools, and people young and old to get involved in Blue Nose Month.
Blue noses will be on sale for a month from next week (Thursday 11th April) for €2 in Xtra-vision outlets nationwide.
The following week will see the sale of Blue Nosed Clown fridge magnets from Swapkit, Expert Electrical, Dundrum Town Centre, ESSO On-The-Run and Carphone Warehousestores, with all proceeds going to Irish Autism Action. In addition, you can donate locally to Irish Autism Action through collection boxes in MACE stores.
Other corporate supporters involved in fundraising initiatives during the month include Fossett’s Circus, where the generous blue nosed clowns will host special circus performances in aid of the autism support group.
“Doing something good for someone else is the best antidote to the blues, so I would ask that people think about how they might raise a little for Irish Autism Action in April, and have some fun at the same time”, the Boyzone star said in support of the Blue Nose campaign.
Members of 40 autism support groups and special schools countrywide will host fundraising events in practically every county in Ireland during April, and Irish Autism Action is hoping more people will come on board to help raise much-needed funds, and to donate what they can.~
Wearing your blue jeans to work or school; a karaoke night exclusively with songs with blue in the title; or being sponsored to wear only blue for the day, are among the fundraising activities people are organising during April, according to the group.
“Irish Autism Action doesn’t get State funding for the services we provide, so we depend entirely on the generosity of the public and on corporate support. The numbers affected by autism in Ireland are growing, and education, care, support, and equality are serious issues for these vulnerable members of our society and their families, IAA chief executive Kevin Whelan says.
Funds raised by Blue Nose Month will go towards supporting the work of the Autism Centre of Excellence (ACE) in Multyfarnham, Co. Westmeath, which was established by the charity in 2012. The charity’s objective in setting up this unique facility in Ireland is to offer vital resources to children and adults on the spectrum through a variety of services including Assessment & Diagnosis, Autism Helpline, Information Centre, supported employment opportunities and Outreach Programmes.
Information and fundraising ideas are available on the Irish Autism Action website at www.autismireland.ie, and everyone throughout the country that can help with fundraising activity or donations should contact Colette Charles, the organisation’s Fundraising & Events Co-ordinator, on 044-9371680.