Youth club praised for fundraising efforts

MEMBERS of a local youth club in Dublin 15 were so
inspired by the braveness of a pal with Cystic Fibrosis that they got together
and raised

?¬1,000 for a charity dedicated to helping others with the condition.

The fundraising efforts began last year after the
young people of Foroige’s Marshampla Leadership group, which is part of the
Huntstown Community Youth Project, contacted local secondary schools to promote
awareness about Cystic Fibrosis, which primarily affects the lungs and
digestive system of sufferers.

This peer education initiative was done in Coolmine
Community School and Hartstown/Huntstown Community School in Dublin 15 where
the group informed students that the genetic condition affects one in 19 people
in Ireland, making it Ireland’s biggest inherited disease.

The Marshampla Leadership group also initiated an art
competition in the schools under three themes – music, heroes and what makes me
happy. The purpose of the competition was to encourage people not to dwell on
the genetic disease but to highlight the fact that people with CF can enjoy a
full life and be all that they can be.

Over 70 students from both schools took part in the
competition and 12 were selected to produce a beautiful 2012 calendar that was
kindly sponsored by the schools.

The group also organised a musical concert for young
people last November and between sales of tickets and calendars they managed to
raise an impressive

?¬1,000.

Fundraising manager of Cystic Fibrosis Association of
Ireland, Martin Cahill, described the quality of the calendar as

“one of the
best I have seen

? when he commended the young fundraisers for their initiative.

“The money raised is a testament of hard work and
excellent leadership qualities,

? he said.

Local youth officer, JK Onwumereh, said that he was
proud of the members of the group.

“There might be other fundraising initiatives in the
future that will benefit the organisation,

? he added.