As the countdown continues to Monday’s North West 10k Run and Walk, Cara House is looking forward to hitting the road in another sense as they fundraise towards the purchase of a new van.
Cara House Family Resource Centre in Letterkenny is one of three benefitting charities from this year’s race, which takes place on Bank Holiday Monday from 11am.
The work of Cara House includes activities, courses and interest groups as well as services. It provides a valuable resource for the whole Letterkenny community from young to old, especially at periods in their lives when individuals are vulnerable. Cara House FRC is located on Pearse Road just behind Charleys Cafe.
Joe Boland is the Board of Management Chairperson and he’s delighted that the North West 10k Committee has given Cara House FRC the opportunity to fundraise towards the purchase of a new van that will enhance the range of services they provide to the local community including DIY and meal deliveries.
“The most important thing for people to do now is to enter for the North West 10k and support the three charities. Run or walk and be part of a great event that has raised 931,000 euros to date. Over the last couple of months we have done a number of fundraisers along with the other two charities, Letterkenny Community Childcare Centre and the Kilmacrennan, Termon, Gartan, Churchill and Trentagh Community First Responders. That has all been done with the support of the North West 10k Committee who have guided us along the way. We are fundraising for a new delivery van which is badly needed. All at Cara House are looking forward now to Monday and being part of a great event,” Mr Boland said.
Cara House FRC welcomes everyone with respect, offering peer support, friendship and acceptance. It is socially inclusive, with high quality services and activities offered at a rate that makes them accessible to all. After a significant investment in refurbishment works Cara House Family Resource Centre fully reopened just a year ago in a new building located on the Pearse road just behind Charleys Cafe in Letterkenny.
At the time manager Martina McGinty said that it had been a massive project to take on but the committee was delighted as the job had been finished very well. All the facilities are there including being fully accessible for those with disabilities and in wheelchairs. Cara House FRC wouldn’t be where it is today without the inspirational Susan McCauley who was the founder of the community service.
There is a Drop-in Centre for adults open 10-2 during the week and a number of courses take place there along with a Women’s Shed. The Parent and Toddler group is also an integral part of Cara House while Helping Hands and the Befriending Service are two community initiatives that are very much part of the Cara House programme. Helping Hands is where Cara volunteers go out to homes and do some light DIY work and garden maintenance. Befriending involves volunteers linking with individuals who are socially isolated. They can either visit the person in their home or meet them out in a cafe for a chat. Cara also offers a study hub for adult learners with laptops available for use.
Cara Children’s Centre offers free sessional childcare for Preschool children. Afterschool Clubs are available for children from Letterkenny National Schools. Children are collected from selected schools. A healthy snack is given and homework is done in a supportive way, followed by a wide variety of activities to interest the children. Two years ago the Cara Children’s Centre expanded to include a toddler room for children from two years when they moved to their new premises on Pearse Road, Letterkenny. The new facility also offers an outdoor play facility.
Cara House opened in May 2004 to provide a constructive and enjoyable space for people who have time on their hands during the day. In 2008 it became a Family Resource Centre – one of 106 centres under the programme nationally. From opening just three evenings and one morning a week Cara House opened for a period six days a week. Cara House has been fortunate in attracting staff who contribute to this by their caring natures and concern for all who attend.
The organisation was based in Mount Southwell for a number of years and also had periods in other locations including opposite the Old Dunnes Stores. The Board of Management had been searching for new premises for a considerable period of time before finding the building beside Charleys Cafe. The Cara House core funder is Tusla while they are also supported by the HSE, Donegal County Council and the Donegal Education and Training Board.
Momentum is building towards the 2024 North West 10k which takes place next Monday in Letterkenny.
The charity run and walk has an 11 a.m. start. Donegal Person of the Year Moya Brennan of Clannad fame will be the Special Guest to officially set the runners and walkers on their way around the roads of the Cathedral Town.
For further details go to www.northwest10k.com and on the North West 10k social media platforms. Entries will be taken at the 10k Marquee at the Letterkenny Community Centre on Saturday (3 p.m.-6 p.m.) and Sunday (3 p.m. – 6 p.m.). As well as entering runners and walkers can pick up their 10k t-shirts and race numbers. Those who have entered online are also encouraged to come along and pick up their t-shirts and numbers in order to avoid delays on Bank Holiday Monday morning. Entries will also be taken on Monday morning at the Community Centre from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.
The three charities benefitting this year are the Kilmacrennan, Termon, Gartan, Churchill and Trentagh Community First Responders, Letterkenny Community Childcare Centre and the Cara House Family Resource Centre.
North West 10k Chairperson Neil Martin is asking the public to come out and support the three charities on Monday morning. “The online entry numbers are up on this time last year so that is very positive for us as a Committee. We are still taking entries online till midnight on Friday. And then on Saturday and Sunday we will be taking entries at our office in the marquee beside the Letterkenny Community Centre from 3-6 p.m. on both days. We would also ask as many of those as possible that have entered online to come along on Saturday and Sunday to pick their t-shirts and race numbers. That will reduce the queueing and congestion on the day” Mr Martin said.