Walk but no talk for Family Carers event
The team at Family Carers Ireland in Mullingar welcomed Peter Dunleavy to their offices last week for a presentation of the funds raised at an event in November that he helped to organise.
Amy Kelly, support manager in Mullingar, explained: “On November 2, we held a silent walk in Mullingar, with music and refreshments after in Clarke’s Bar, and with a raffle, and the total raised on the night was €5,405.
“It was a great night for the community, and a lot of local businesses supported raffle prizes – and the funds raised through the silent walk will allow Family Carers Ireland to continue to support family carers in our community and continue to provide services.”
Pointing out that family carers look after loved ones 365 days a year and “do phenomenal work”, Amy said the money means a great deal to the organisation and what they can do for members across the county.
“We want to thank Clarke’s Bar for facilitating the after event and Wheelchair Paddy, who provided music on the night. It was a really great night for the people of Mullingar.”
When the Westmeath Examiner asked about ‘Wheelchair Paddy’, Peter took up the story: “I’ve done several [charity] trips out to South Africa and Haiti and one of the trips Paddy came out with us, and he couldn’t stand up when it came to getting off the plane – we had to get him a wheelchair. The name stuck – Wheelchair Paddy – it’s a bit of craic and people expect this guy to appear in a wheelchair.”
Resuming, Amy expressed her thanks to Peter “who was key in organising this event in aid of Family Carers Ireland”.
“I want to thank him for all the work he did, all the organising, the sponsorship cards and running the event. We here at Family Carers Ireland really appreciate all his work.”
The background to the silent walk was that Peter Dunleavy, an electrical engineer based in Mullingar, had a request from Joan MacLeod of the local Family Carers Ireland team as “she wanted to do a fundraiser and I’ve done the trips to South Africa and to Haiti, and she asked me to assist in organising it”.
Joan and Peter knew one another and she thought he was the man for the job she had in mind. Peter was more than happy to help, and the silent walk this year was the third one they’ve done.
“We came up with the idea of a silent walk – it’s just a short walk and it allows people to reflect on things, reflect on somebody that’s been affected or someone that you’ve lost recently, or somebody that’s currently sick.”
Participants go for a short walk along the canal, where it’s easy and safe, and then gather for a social event afterwards.
Peter’s business Analytical Testing Solutions is based in Mullingar and “provides electrical safety surveys for insurance purposes” across the country.