Be A SuPAWhero: fundraiser for Autism Assistance Dogs
Autism Assistance Dogs Ireland launches Be A SuPAWhero, an ambitious fundraising campaign to raise €500,000 to reopen the waiting list in 2022.
Be A SuPAWhero will run from October 1 to 31 and funds raised will go towards training a further 25 autism assistance dogs. This will allow Autism Assistance Dogs Ireland (AADI) to reopen their waiting list in 2022 and offer more children the life changing support of an autism assistance dog.
In 2021, AADI reopened their waiting list and allocated 30 assistance dogs in under 2 minutes to 30 very grateful families. Sadly, the AADI waiting list is now closed but the Be A SuPAWhero campaign aims to end the wait for more families who need support in 2022.
Carla Ankiah, Head of Fundraising, Partnerships and Relationships, explains: "Our autism assistance dogs are the real superheroes as they transform the lives of children with autism. We want to train more dogs and help more families on our waiting list but to do this we need to raise more funds. We are not government funded and we do not charge for our dogs. We continually rely on the generosity of the public and business community to raise funds and help children with autism reach their full potential. We are asking the people and business community in Munster to get behind this campaign and make a donation on our website."
Every family’s story is different. Every child with autism is different, every autism assistance dog changes the world for a child with autism.
EGON AND CONOR
Meet Egon (AADI Autism Assistance Dog) and Conor (child) from Limerick
Vivienne Callopy, Connor’s mum, says: “After 6 years on the waiting list, we were delighted to hear that Conor had been matched with a fabulous dog called Egon. It was better than winning the lotto. Before Egon came into our lives leaving the house was a huge stress. Conor is a flight risk and has no danger awareness. He is 12 years old and doesn't want someone holding his hand.
"On one occasion we were waiting to board a flight in Stansted airport and he took off across the runway. Luckily the runway was quiet. Thankfully we now have Egon and he comes with us on all trips out & about. Conor happily walks & waits patiently attached to Egon. The attention is no longer on him and all people see is a fabulous big giant of a dog doing a great job keeping our Conor safe. If anyone can make a donation big or small it will help train more dogs like Egon & ensure more kids get to benefit from having a forever friend."
With your support AADI can help more families like Vivienne, Conor and Egon. Please donate and help train more SuPAWheros for 2022 and end the wait for more families.