Hi and thank you for taking time to read through my JustGiving page.

Last year’s challenge raised well over an amazing £2,500 for
Birmingham Irish Association (Thank you again to everyone who supported us) and in particular its Dementia support service. The money raised contributed to the service being able to provide day care support to individuals suffering from this terrible illness. 

The Dementia service thanks to generous donations such as this now operates 4 days a week from its central base in Digbeth and a new Centre in South Yardley. The organisation has been able to provide support for longer hours and to more people, providing a warm and welcoming environment for those living with Dementia and providing much needed respite for family and friends. 

Clients who attend are having an actioned packed day aimed at providing a stimulating and culturally appropriate service. They are greeted with a cup of tea and biscuits and then settle down for a morning of activities including bowling, seated exercise, arts and crafts and even watching Mrs Browns Boys!!!!! After a hot lunch of Bacon and Cabbage (of course) or Stew its back to the activities and a sing along by a visiting group of musicians from the Irish Community, finishing off with the National Anthem before being driven back home to their families. 

The service is also visited on a regular basis by local Junior and Infant schools who delight the clients with their youthful sense of humour and the reaction from the clients when the children sit and chat with them brings many a tear to the eye. 

The success of the service has taken everyone by surprise and the demand for places grows ever stronger. The organisation is looking at ways to create more centres in the local community in the next 12 months and is constantly looking at ways of funding new opportunities.

The centre located in Digbeth takes place in a large community hall which is in need of some renovation and new furniture to allow for more members of the community to be welcomed through the doors. With the service being stretched to the limit potential clients are having to go on to waiting lists as there simply isn’t enough chairs to go around!!!!! A nice comfortable chair costs around £300 each and ideally the organisation needs at least another 10 to meet the demand. Alongside that the costs involved in providing materials for the activities and running the new community sites are holding the Association back from providing a much needed service to the more vulnerable members of our community.

So on Saturday 1st September, Deaglan and I will walk the 3 Welsh Peaks which involves climbing the 3 main summits in North, Mid and South Wales within 24 hours. We will start early Saturday morning by walking up and down Snowdon (1085m above sea level), then with a dedicated driver we will make our way across to Cader Idris (893m) and upon completion we will drive across to Pen y Fan (886m) which is the highest mountain in South Wales. We will drive around about 150 miles between peaks, walk 18 miles and a total ascent of 2800m. 

Last years walk was a tremendous success (Even with Storm Brian battering away at us) and this years challenge will have its own challenges. But we are planning to succeed and raise the £3000 that will allow the association to purchase new furniture. We will keep everyone updated on progress. 

Thank you for taking time to read this page.

Mick and Deaglan O'Brien 

To find out more about the Birmingham Irish Association please click on this Birmingham Irish Association