Ice-cream lovers across Donegal have helped bring this year’s HB Fundays total to over €250,000.
More than 250 families of babies and young children with Down syndrome have been directly supported thanks to funds raised as part of this year’s HB Fundays campaign with HB Ice-cream, Down Syndrome Ireland has announced.
Some €251,648 was raised as part of this year’s campaign, with many of the ice-cream parties held in schools, workplaces and community centres around Donegal.
The funds raised has allowed the charity to accelerate funding for the roll out of a vital language development programme for young children with Down syndrome called See and Learn and Parent-Link, a local support service for new parents of babies with Down syndrome, provided by parent volunteers who will be trained and supported by Down Syndrome Ireland.
HB Fundays 2019 ambassador, Rachel Allen with Siún Lundberg (5), from Donabate enjoying delicious HB Hazelbrook Farm ice cream in Tigers Childcare, Blanchardstown at the launch of the 2019 HB Fundays campaign in aid of Down Syndrome Ireland (DSI). Photo: Sasko Lazarov/Photocall Ireland
Speaking about the 2019 Fundays campaign, Down Syndrome Ireland CEO Gary Owens said: “We are so grateful to all the ice cream lovers out there who held a HB Fundays party this year – you are helping young children with Down syndrome develop vital speech and language skills and also helping new parents receive the support they need directly from other parents who are sharing the same journey. Thank you.”
