Fitness for the physically impaired Cork, Ireland

The functional zone @ LeisureWorld is a gym or area of a gym in our facility in Cork, Ireland with adapted equipment that allows individuals with a physical impairment to train optimally or engage in a sustainable exercise programme.

Users are people who have:

1. Experienced a single neurological event e.g. stroke, acquired brain injury, spinal cord injury etc resulting in physical impairment.

2. Living with a progressive chronic condition such as Parkinsons, Multiple Sclerosis etc.

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Ella’s Wish To Walk Dublin, Republic of Ireland

The team at Rathfarnham énergie Fitness club in Nutgrove Retail Park, Dublin backed Ella’s Wish to Walk all the way and raised €2,000 ($2,215) by hosting a fun family fundraiser on Monday, June 6th 2016. A ticketed Swimming Gala & Pool Party was attended by over 200 locals organised by club manager Eoin Kaar and Ella’s mum Nicola. Three-year-old Ella Doyle was born with cerebral palsy. Ella walks with a walking frame but as time progresses she will need a wheelchair. She now has a life changing opportunity to have pioneering surgery known as selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR) in the USA, which will help her to walk independently. Her family need to raise €150,000, which will fund the surgery and an intensive 2-year physiotherapy program. They have so far raised €30,000.

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Dancing Parkinson’s YYC programme Calgary, Canada

Launched in 2013 as a pilot project, Dancing Parkinson’s YYC provides dance classes to people with Parkinson disease, their spouses, friends and care partners. It is based on the simple belief that ‘dancing is good for us’. With live musical accompaniment and a focus on rhythm and musicality, body awareness, muscle development, coordination and socializing, Dancing Parkinson’s YYC brings together the style of Decidedly Jazz Danceworks with a Dance Education model used at the University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada.  The program is dedicated to enhancing people’s quality of life through the arts.

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Creating a sustainable community in Ethiopia Sasiga Lowlands, Ethiopia

Since Fifth Avenue Club opened in Calgary, Alberta, Canada in 1996, it has developed a local reputation for setting the standard for “friendly, personalized service”. On the other side of the world in Ethiopia, it has become known for supporting a sustainable development project that has changed the lives of over 40,000 people, in nine villages, in the Belo region of Ethiopia. The club, owned by Darren Kanwischer, has been involved with Food for the Hungry (FH) since June of 2007. Three dollars of each member’s dues are donated to Belo each month. Fifth Avenue Club has also donated proceeds from the sale of old equipment, held a 10k fundraising run (“Run for Belo”),  had members fund raise among themselves and are currently involved with “Run for Water” in Calgary, Alberta.

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