Cork Racecourse Mallow, has recently announced it’s affiliation to national charity, Autism Assistance Dogs Ireland [AADI].  The charity was founded in 2010 and has since placed three trained assistance dogs and six companion dogs with families who have children living with autism.  Achieving independence and safety for children suffering from the condition is a priority and the dogs can provide invaluable help for these children.  Helping the children improve their interaction and socialisation skills, they are a source of unconditional love and affection and often give their owners the confidence to go out in public.  Training service manager, Nuala Geraghty has been working with three more dogs which will be ready to go to homes in Cork, Kildare and Louth very shortly.

Mary Kelly, the Sales and Marketing Manager at Cork Racecourse Mallow, is excited and eager to be working with AADI.  ”From the word go, we have built a very strong working relationship with the charity.  We wanted to put the racecourse’s ongoing support for the work done by the AADI on a more formal footing by making AADI the course’s official charity which is a national first. We are also working on some exciting projects before the end of the year. It really is an exciting time for Cork Racecourse and AADI”.  Brenda Clancy who is the director of fundraising at AADI, is thrilled to have the charity which came into being in 2010, recognised by such a prominent organisation as Cork Racecourse.  Nuala Geraghty said, ‚ ” as a charity, AADI does not receive any Government funding, therefore all fundraising activities are vital to the ongoing work of the charity and having seen the difference an assistance dog can make to the daily lives of families dealing with autism, I can genuinely say that every cent can help us to continue making that difference.”  Cork Racecourse holds 18 meetings annually with an attendance of over 38,000 and the charity hope to raise their profile within this equestrian setting.

Dan Joe Fitzgerald, the Mayor of Mallow, was full of praise for Cork Racecourse saying , “It’s brilliant to see that despite these tough economic times that a well established organisation such as Cork Racecourse Mallow has chosen to affiliate itself with such a worthy cause. In these economic times, it is essential that businesses of all levels and from all sectors work together and this new venture between the racecourse and AADI is a prime example‚”  I’ts hoped by raising the charity’s profile nationwide, they will be able to provide more ‘best friends’, to children who need them.

More information is available at www,corkracecourse.ie and www.aadi.ie.