Praxis Care staff falling for… a new assistance vehicle
Four staff members from Praxis Care Residential in Mullingar are skydiving to raise funds for a new assistance vehicle for their residents.
Staff Pamela Monaghan, Sarah O’Hora, Michael Perez and Katie O’Connor are all taking part in the skydive, so that their residents can get around the area more easily.
The facility is near Knockdrin Castle on the Castlepollard Road, and many members are getting older and cannot step up into their current vehicle.
That has meant that staff have to use their own cars in some instances for residents who find it difficult to access the bus.
Pamela said: "We as staff and residents thought the best thing to raise some money for the vehicle was to jump out of a plane! We are a charity, we all came into this profession because we want to help people, and if we raise money here, we can continue to do that.
"Along with that, though, it’s great for staff morale. By working together with our residents, we can show them that we really do care."
Pamela elaborated on the difficulties involved in having just one wheelchair accessible vehicle, and staff trying to organise the use of their own cars.
She said: "It’s lovely to be out in the countryside, but at the same time we need transportation, because with five residents and one vehicle it can be challenging.
"We have to manage this aspect of our days, because we only have a certain number of vehicles, but we always seem to manage, although it would be easier if we had another car."
Pamela said the fundraising element of the skydive and how it has helped get the residents involved. "We are all working together, going into the community, with the residents getting the opportunity to talk to people and answer questions where they can, integrating as much as possible."
The skydivers need to have a certain amount of money raised, and the jump depends on the weather. All going well, they will do it at the end of September.