Members of the Laois Fire Service are going to Hell and Back to support AsIAm – Ireland’s National Autism Charity.
The member, from Portarlington, Portlaoise, Abbeyleix, Rathdowney, Durrow, Mountmellick, Stradbally and Mountrath, officially launched their Same Chance fundraiser at the Fire station in Portarlington recently.
AsIAm continues to support Autistic people and their families all over Ireland and strives to ensure that we all receive the same chance.
With an increase of 300% in demand since the start of the pandemic for the charities range of supports and services the need to generate income is now paramount.
In Laois alone, there are approximately 1,300 people on the Autism Spectrum with over 5,200 family members having autism in their lives.
The fundraiser is the brain child of Ed Gallagher who is a firefighter based out of Portarlington.
He will be joined on June 12 on the Hell and Back challenge by colleagues including, Keith Vaughan from Portarlington, Jason Maher and Pat Ahern from Mountmellick, Keith Louis and Brian Delaney from Portlaoise, Brian Keegan from Abbyleix, Neil Campion from Rathdowney, Stevie Thomas from Durrow and Pauric Keeley from Portlaoise.
The Hell and Back Challenge is a 13km test staged in Wicklow with the team of firefighters facing the challenge on Sunday June 12.
They are currently in training for the challenge and are asking everyone to support them on this link.
Commenting, Adam Harris, CEO of AsIAm, said: “Autistic people simply want the same chance to go to school, access healthcare services, gain employment and to be accepted in the community for who we are.
“Our work in AsIAm is driven to support Autistic people and to ensure that everyone is given the same chance.
“By supporting the Laois Fire Services Hell and Back it supports our work that all Autistic people get the same chance.”
75% of all income generated has to be sourced from individuals, community and Business that is why support for initiatives such as this is so important.
Dick White, Fundraising Manager, said: “AsIAm is seeking support for our work – there are a variety of ways to help AsIAm in what we do.
“This challenge of Hell and Back is only one such an initiative and we would like to thank the staff and family of Laois Fire Service for this wonderful effort.”
