Petrina urges marathon support for the NCBI

A local woman is encouraging people in Drogheda to get involved in this year’s VHI Women’s Mini Marathon to help raise funding for the National Council of the Blind in Ireland (NCBI).

There are currently 54,810 people with impaired vision in Ireland and 1,632 of these are in Louth.

Petrina Finn from Drogheda has a long association with the NCBI having been diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa at just six years of age.

When her sight deteriorated further some years ago she began using NCBI’s services on a regular basis, and credits the NCBI for informing her of her rights, work grants that were available for her, updating her mobility training and upskilling her in technology training.

Petrina explained: ‘Bernie Devlin, the Community Resource Worker here in Drogheda has been a great support to me. She has told me what is available to me as a visually impaired person and what I can do to remain self-sufficient. I have a mortgage and responsibilities, and the services and supports that the NCBI provides to me allow me to live as normal a life as possible. Life doesn’t stop just because you have a visual impairment.’

Petrina is encouraging people to support NCBI for this year’s Vhi Women’s Mini Marathon,

‘ The huge resources that the NCBI puts at the disposal of people with visual impairments all cost money and so I would really encourage the ladies of Louth to lend their legs to the NCBI for the Mini Marathon. You would be running for a great charity that offers great services and life being life, nobody ever knows when they too might need the help of the NCBI.’

NCBI’s services include emotional support and counselling for people struggling to come to terms with sight loss.

Rehabilitation training, which includes independent living skills and mobility training (using a long cane). Advice and information services, employment advice and low vision solutions, such as magnifiers and other aids to help people to read standard print.

Assistive technology advice and training to either magnify or read aloud what is on screen. NCBI also has a Library which produces large-print and audio books and Braille.

All NCBI participants will receive, training guidelines for all walkers, joggers and runners, sponsorship cards and fundraising advice before the marathon.

There will be an NCBI base to hold all your belongings, a pamper zone with hair styling, a make-up and nail service to relax after the marathon with yummy refreshments to refuel.

NCBI will also have a family area with fun activities, such as banner making, glasses decoration designing and learning about sight loss zone with games.

If you are interested in getting involved you can register online at www. ncbi.ie or contact NCBI on 01 882 1970 or email collette.mcentee@ncbi.ie.