Valentine’s Ball night for autism

THE annual Valentine Ball in aid of the Drogheda ABACAS Special School for Children with Autism and Autism Youth Clubs will be taking place on Sat 22nd February in the Westcourt Hotel, Drogheda.

‘ This is one of our major fundraisers of the year,’ said Jacinta Walsh from ABACAS and funds raised really help support the activities in ABACAS School and also youth clubs and summer camps for children and teenagers with Autism.

‘For example last summer we had over 60 children attend our summer camps over seven weeks.

‘ These camps could not have taken place without the funds raised through the Valentine Ball. For many families the time spent at our youth clubs or summer camps is the only break they get.

‘It’s a lovely break for the children filled with fun activities and run by staff trained in the needs of a child with Autism and for the family it’s a respite break to enable them to perhaps do an activity with the other children or just to draw breath for a few minutes.

‘Between 40 and 50 children attend our four youth clubs every Saturday. It’s a lifeline for families as well as providing appropriate safe fun activities for children and teenagers with autism. For many of the children this is the only social activity they have outside school or their family and really helps boost their self-esteem as well as a forum for making friends’

The Ball itself consists of a drinks reception followed by a delicious four course dinner and then dancing the night away.

‘It’s a great night out for a family group or gang of friends,’ said Linda Flynn from the organising committee.

Tickets are €75 each or €750 for a table of ten and are available from Jacinta on 087 240 7431 or jacintawalsh1@gmail.com