Fighting Blindness named as Charity Partner

The Irish patient-led charity Fighting Blindness has been selected as one of the five official GAA charities for 2013.

A full programme of activity for the season as charity partner was launched today (Tuesday 2nd July 2013) at Croke Park with guest of honour Páraic Duffy, GAA director general, in attendance. Players past and present, including Barney Rock (Dublin), Pat Fox (Tipperary), Eoghan O'Flaherty (Kildare), Aindreas Doyle (Wexford) and Sinead Finnegan (Dublin) were also in attendance to lend their support.

In addition to a financial contribution by the GAA, Fighting Blindness welcomed the partnership as a platform to highlight the growing numbers of people living with sight loss in Ireland and raise the profile of the ongoing work of the charity to cure blindness, support people living with sight loss and empower patients.

Tony Ward, head of fundraising at Fighting Blindness explained, "We are extremely grateful to the GAA for nominating us as one of their chosen charities for 2013, not alone for the generous donation, but also for the opportunity to raise awareness of the estimated 224,000 people affected by sight loss in Ireland.

"Fighting Blindness has funded more than 40 research projects over the last thirty years, investing over EUR10 million into finding treatments and cures for blindness. In addition we continue to provide support to those currently affected by sight loss through our Insight Counselling Centre and our extensive advocacy and patient empowerment activities. Many flagship research projects are now reaching clinical trial stage, so, for the first time in history, treatments for sight loss are within our grasp. The GAA is a fantastic organisation who we are delighted to be working with and we are sincerely grateful for their support which brings us one step closer to finding a cure.

Páraic Duffy, GAA Ard-Stiúrthóir said, "The GAA has an active policy to support charities and I am aware of the excellent work that Fighting Blindness do. I am delighted to be here today to help launch the Fighting Blindness programme of activity and would like to wish them well for the coming year and beyond."

At the launch hosted, by RTE's Des Cahill, the programme of activity for the season was outlined.

Fighting Blindness Sundays: Games on the 18th August and 1st September will see the charity hold a major presence around Croke Park.

All-Ireland Final Ticket Draws: Fighting Blindness also launched a series of raffles to support fundraising efforts for the year. Raffle tickets with chances to win tickets to the All-Ireland Football Final, All-Ireland Hurling Final and a VIP package to the Football Final are on sale now.

Gaelic Writers Association (GWA) Quiz: The Gaelic Writers Association will host a quiz night in aid of Fighting Blindness in November.

FBD Kilmacud Crokes Football 7s Charity Game: Fighting Blindness will host a charity match at the FBD Kilmacud Crokes Football 7s in September.

Photo: At the launch are, from left, Kildare footballer Eohan O'Flaherty, Ard Stiúrthoir Paraic Duffy, Tony Ward, Fighting Blindness Head of Fundraising, Des Cahill, and Dublin ladies footballer Sinead Finnegan.