PHOTOS St Gabriel’s Thomond Park abseil fundraiser a huge success

St Gabriel’s Foundation Thomond Park Stadium abseil fundraiser took place on Friday, September 15 at Thomond Park Limerick. Picture: Olena Oleksienko/ilovelimerick

St Gabriel’s raised thousands of Euros as volunteers ‘took the plunge’ abseiling from the top of Thomond Park Stadium in support of the Limerick-based charity

Brave abseilers took a leap from the top of Thomond Park Stadium for St Gabriel’s Foundation this past Friday, September 15 raising thousands of Euros in funding for the children’s foundation.

Spirits were high on the day despite some downpours on the day as volunteers made the 125-foot drop in aid of the charity which has changed the lives of so many children and families in Limerick and throughout the Mid West.

Speaking to Richard Lynch from I Love Limerick, Treasa McAuliffe, St Gabriel’s Chief Executive Officer said the charity was “so excited” for the event, “We’ve got great support and I suppose it’s tough times, and we are always trying to increase supports for children so we appreciate everybody who has come out to support us today, and there’s a great atmosphere and hopefully it will be a great day.”

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Treasa said although the group receive funding and support from the HSE, there is always a “deficit”, adding, “We’re always looking at our how we can improve our  services and supply more, there’s never enough for children so it’s really important that we can add to our services and develop and maintain the services we have, so it’s so important, the fundraising is such an important part of what we do.”

Founded in 1961, St Gabriel’s provides services to children with disabilities and their families through two Children’s Disability Network Teams (Treehouse and South City), Hydrotherapy, Orthotics and a purpose-built state-of-the-art Children’s Respite House in Mungret.

Taking to Facebook to thank all of the participants and those who helped on the day, St Gabriel’s said, “What a day! The rain did not dampen spirits as a brave group of abseilers took to the top of Thomond Park and scaled down 125ft in aid of St. Gabriel’s. 

“Dave from NevSail Watersports made sure everyone was ‘pure calm’ before they sailed down. Richard from I Love Limerick kept everyone’s spirits high and it was just a fantastic day. Well done to the abseil crew who raised thousands of Euros with their fundraising efforts.”

As at the heart of I Love Limerick is the community and organisations such as St Gabriel’s which hold it together, Richard Lynch spoke about St Gabriel’s as an “incredible organisation that I Love Limerick has been working with for so many years”.

“Actually, my mother fundraised for them since the beginning, I’m talking about 40 years ago, so it is incredible to be here today to support St Gabriel’s,” said the I Love Limerick founder.

St Gabriel’s fundraising efforts are ongoing and the group are calling on the support of those interested to help maintain and expand the vital services offered by the foundation.

Find out how you can support St Gabriel’s here.
Read more St Gabriel’s Stories here.

Pictures: Olena Oleksienko/ilovelimerick