A new beach wheelchair was unveiled on Tuesday this week at Marble Hill thanks to the generosity of the Órla Memorial 5K fund.
Speaking at the ceremony Sinead Trearty mother of little Órla who passed away almost 10 years ago when she was just 1 year old thanked all the people who have supported the Órla Memorial 5k over the years saying “we have raised over €60,000, providing help to the Jack and Jill Children’s foundation, the Jennifer Trust for SMA and local paediatric physiotherapy services.
Sinead added: “We are now delighted to sponsor the beach wheelchair to Marble Hill beach and hope that it will go some way to help those with reduced mobility to access the beach and surrounding areas. Órla passed away almost 10 years ago and I know she would have loved to see this happening”.
Sinead also thanked Donegal County Council for facilitating this initiative and the Shandon Hotel for their help in providing a home and safekeeping of the beach wheelchair.
Cathaoirleach Cllr. Gerry McMonagle thanked Sinead and the Órla Memorial 5K fund for this wonderful gift saying “on a day like today when the sun is shining and we are all enjoying this lovely summer weather, we take for granted that everyone has the opportunity to visit the beach. But that is not always the case. Unfortunately if you have mobility issues or are a wheelchair user then going to enjoy the beach is just not an option.
“But today with this wonderful gift from Sinead and her family and the Órla Memorial 5k fund it will now be possible for those in need of a wheelchair or with mobility issues to visit Marble Hill beach and enjoy one of the most beautiful places in Donegal. This is a lovely way of remembering little Órla.”
Director of Service Michael McGarvey also spoke at the unveiling ceremony and thanked Sinead and the Órla Memorial 5K Fund for this wonderful donation and also the Shandon Hotel for agreeing to house the chair and facilitate access to the chair.
This is now the fourth beach wheelchair available in Donegal, with others available at Rathmullan, Downings and Carrickfinn
To book use of the wheelchair at Marble Hill, just contact the Shandon Hotel at 074 91 36137.
The beach wheelchairs can also be booked at Rathmullan by calling Aengus Kennedy at (086) 812 3019, Downings by calling Downings Tidy Towns on (087) 6152351 and Carrickfinn by contacting Donegal Airport at (074) 95 48284.
Tags: