Lakers members challenge themselves to go the extra mile for fundraiser
WHILE unable to attend activities at Lakers, a number of the club’s members and their families have made a huge effort to raise funds by doing challenges.
They did running or achieved a steps per day target to keep fit and help support their club, raising thousands towards keeping up online resources for the time being.
Many of the Lakers volunteers and drivers have been doing voluntary runs with the club buses for the HSE.
Some of those to contribute to the fundraising efforts include Sarah O’Toole from Kilmacanogue and her cousin Matthew Doyle, who is a member. They did 20km for Lakers and raised €1,610.
Brian Kennedy from Kilcoole raised much needed funds by doing a 10km run. Also from Beachdale in Kilcoole is Donal O’Mahony who did a 10km run in Newtown. Donal is a Special Olympics athlete and enjoys athletics, golf and many other sports.
‘I wanted to help raise money for the club during the crisis and it also gave me an incentive to go walking,’ said Brian. ‘My favourite activities are the art class, as it helps me be creative, and tag rugby, as I enjoy being part of a team.’
Ciara Fagan – who is from Bray – Is doing her own Personal Step Challenge - she loves cooking, as well as drama and music, and she also takes part in different sports at Lakers. ‘I did the challenge because it’s a great way to stay fit and keep motivated,’ said Ciara. ‘I am loving the cookery classes and keep fit online.’
Her mum Sandra said that Ciara has coped really well during lock-down. It was definitely a challenge, but Sandra was lucky because she was able to work from home, whereas so many others weren’t. She said she knows that many others out there were finding it tough.
Marian O’Rourke also from Bray who is doing lengths of the promenade for Lakers. Both have raised substantial amounts of money to support their club she also loves drama and music, as well as ladies fit group, tennis, ten pin bowling and meeting her friends.
‘I am doing four laps of the prom at a time until I do 100 laps over 25 days,’ said Marian. ‘It helps me to keep fit and the club needs more people to help raise funds.’ Marian is appealing to others to take on a challenge for Lakers.
Lisa Byrne and Graeme O’Neill recently took up the challenge and are looking for supporters. They are both doing the step challenge and have been sending their steps in every day.
Lisa, who does bowling, drama and hip-hop, said that as well as raising money, she wants to raise awareness of the members’ abilities and disabilities.
‘ The reason I am doing this challenge is to raise money for this amazing club and to show people how to keep fit and to raise awareness throughout the Wicklow community,’ said Graeme, who does football, bowling, drama, basketball and boxercise at Lakers.
Roisin Phillips from Delgany, and Emer Quereshi, living in Carlow but originally from Delgany, are both taking up the step challenge, 10,000 steps in one month, to support Lakers. Their sister Sara Devereux is a member.
Gary Burton from Sallynoggin is doing the step challenge. His favourite Lakers activities are soccer, skiing, athletics, swimming and golf. ‘I did the Lakers challenge because it’s a new experience and it keeps you fit and healthy,’ he said. ‘It is amazing and teaches you how to raise money online for Lakers.’
Donal O’Mahony from Kilcoole and Pierce Cahill from Greystones did their 10km run last Sunday.
Donal has been keeping busy by listening to music, going for walks, and looking after his garden. His plays basketball and tag rugby.
The reason Lakers is raising funds in this way is due to a dramatic drop in fundraising income from cancelled events.
‘Donations will go towards our online classes, and will help us to bounce back and support the members when we do reopen,’ said Kathy Baker of Lakers.
‘Due to restrictions our classes that usually run in the centre will be limited, so it will be really important to keep the virtual classes going too,’ she said.
‘We are so proud of them all, most of them are doing more exercise than the staff! We even had Mandy Finlay who set her own challenge, who did over 1 million steps over three months, she didn’t raise funds but did raise some eyebrows and was such an inspiration!’
Kathy said that it was a real challenge for members and families in the earlier stages of lock-down, especially as so many had to cocoon. Most families didn’t have the support circle they usually would have with services, care providers, social care workers, and teachers. Not to mention respite weekends away, summer camps and holidays cancelled to boot.
‘We were aware that a lot of our members are so dependent on routines, and missed their classes with us and of course their friends so much,’ said Kathy. ‘ The online classes from Lakers were a way for our club to reach out and support a new routine at home, to connect them to their friends, and let the members know we were still there for them.
‘I really need to say how proud we all are and how much we admire the positive attitude of all of our members,’ said Kathy. ‘ They have had to deal with a huge challenge adjusting to a new way of life already and so many have really stepped up to the plate and just really been inspirational to the staff with the way they handled everything. Lakers wants to send a big virtual hug out to all our members. We are so proud of each and every one of them for following the lockdown rules, helping at home, and keeping busy. They are amazing.’
The classes can be seen at lakers.ie/classesonline.