Club raises funds for Lourdes trip
A RECENT medal presentation night in the Rapparees-Starlights GAA club served a dual purpose as it also raised money for the Irish Pilgrimage Trust (IPT).
A cheque for €535 was presented to Fr Odhran Furlong and Patricia Byrne, from the IPT, to help send a child to Lourdes in 2020.
Medals were presented to the underage players by Wexford senior hurlers Kevin Foley and Seamus Casey, who took great delight in doing so. They complimented the players on their success last season and wished them the best of luck in their preparations for their campaign in 2020.
The money for the IPT was raised on the night through a raffle that was very well supported.
The club extended praise to everyone who supported the initiative through sponsorship of spot prizes or by purchasing raffle tickets for the worthwhile cause.
The money was handed over by the U13 squad mentors Tomas McVeigh, Johnny Hyland and Stephen Leacy, along with members of the squad.
The IPT thanked the club for its generosity and also acknowledged everyone who supported the fundraising efforts of the club.
The origins of the IPT goes back to 1954 in England when a small group of young people with special needs headed to Lourdes, led by a young doctor.
The IPT came into being as a result of the expansion of the original organisation, and in 1971 the first Irish group joined with the first Irish trip to Lourdes taking place in April 1972.
The Irish organisation grew in numbers and popularity and this led to it becoming its own Trust.
The influence of the Irish involvement in the Trust movement has over the years led to further expansion of the organisation into other countries and regions.
Run by a board of volunteer trustees, the IPT receives no public or state funding and relies instead on private donations and fundraising to ensure it’s able to continue to bring children and young adults with special needs to Lourdes every year.