Enable Ireland Cork Services is appealing to the public to support its newest fundraising campaign, ‘Dress To Enable.’ The charity is asking members of the public to donate one good, high quality item they no longer need from their wardrobe during the month of September. Donated items will be sold at an event in Enable Ireland’s Children’s Disability Services Centre in Curraheen on October 6th. Enable Ireland supports 13,000 children and adults with disabilities nationally and the campaign will raise funds for vital equipment.

Actress Hilary Rose has come on board to lend her support and says, “I am delighted to support such a fantastic organisation as Enable Ireland. I’ve seen first-hand how vital their services are for children and families who need them. They are asking the public to get behind this great cause and donate their coats, dresses and handbags to help raise funds for vital equipment!!”

Whilst the public is more used to seeing the actress on its screens with two boys, instead two girls joined her to help launch the campaign.

Siobhán Guerin recently celebrated her 18th birthday and is lending her support. Her parents Anna and Donal Guerin said, “We're very happy for our daughter Siobhán to be involved in the "Dress to Enable" event. Over the last 16 years she has had essential therapies and support from Enable Ireland including Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech and Language Therapy, Psychology and Respite. This support has helped Siobhán to become the person that she is today.”

Christopher McCarthy, father of 13 year old Denise Griffin McCarthy told us "Denise has received fantastic support from the Enable Ireland Physiotherapy Department as she was born with cerebral palsy. We are delighted to help spread the word about this campaign and hope the public comes on board to help too."

Organising the event is a stalwart group of volunteers who say that most people will have at least one item in their wardrobe that they have never or barely worn. Anne Hegarty, Lead Volunteer explains, “Did you buy a dress for a special occasion and have either never worn it or only wore it once or twice? Would you consider donating it to us? Have you a new or nearly new coat or handbag that you are happy to give to Enable Ireland? We are calling on the public to get behind this special project and drop their pre-loved items to our children’s centre any day during the month of September which we will then resell on October 6th. In a time when we are all considering the importance of sustainability, it is great that this project allows you to extend the life-cycle of goods and support a great local charity. Anything we don’t sell on the day will get a second shot of being sold through our chain of charity shops."

Speaking about the event, Director of Services in Cork, Gillian Darrer says, “We are very grateful for the public’s support with this one day sales event which takes place on Sunday, October 6th. We will be delighted to welcome the public to our children’s centre in Curraheen. On behalf of Enable Ireland a sincere thanks to the volunteers and public for their support with this campaign.”

Enable Ireland is welcoming donations of new and pre-loved, high quality dresses, coats and handbags and is asking the public to deliver them to their children’s centre in Curraheen, Eircode T12 D768. The fundraising team will be available from 9am to 4.30pm Monday to Friday during the month of September.