A NORTHSIDE special needs school hosted a 5km Park Run to raise funds for both much-needed premises and new equipment for students.
ABACAS Kilbarrack, a school which serves over 40 students with autism and other complex needs, organised the event which involved their own students completing the run, having trained for many months.
The run took place on June 11 at Father Collins Park, Clongriffin and Principal, Christopher Platt, was delighted with the commitment from his students.
Platt said: “We celebrate our students every day in ABACAS, they are just amazing people.”
He said the Park Run was a special day because it marked an occasion that everyone worked towards.
Platt said the idea arose due to the lack of social involvement in the community of children with Autism Spectrum Disorders.
“Initially we had a physio who visits the school who said the students could use more exercise so a couple of the tutors put together a running team,” said Platt.
“I was then saying how great these girls were doing with the kids at a board meeting and some were running up to 5km, so we wanted to do the Park Run to celebrate their achievements.”
The board responded well to Platt’s idea and thought that it would also be a good fundraiser for the current needs of the school.
The money raised will go towards a whole new school to replace the prefabs that are no longer suitable for the students as well as occupational, speech and therapy resources.
ABACAS Kilbarrack was founded in 2001 when a group of parents began pooling their home tuition grants.
It was another 10 years before the Department of Education and Skills gave it ‘pilot school’ status and it finally received permanent recognition last year.
Although the school struggles with funding, Platt says they are on a similar boat to other special needs schools across the country.
“It is trouble that isn’t really unique to us. Every special school deals with the same issue where you need a lot of very specialised resources with autism or other special needs and the grants just aren’t available,” explained Platt.
The principal paid special tribute to tutors Margaret Norris and Catherine Golden who took on this extremely positive task which worked hard on the students’ fitness as well as also increasing their social, self-management and life skills.
“They are great motivators and it is actually amazing because the kids weren’t mad about it at the start but they really have gotten into it and you would see after their run that they would be in great form,” he added.
If you would like to donate to ABACAS Kilbarrack, visit www.mycharity.ie or visit the school’s Facebook page.
REPORT: Brein McGinn
