Laois groups breaks new ground skydiving for people with disabilities
Portlaoise Rotary Club, Portlaoise Irish Wheelchair Association, Portlaoise VIP Hub and Naas Rotary club team up
The Portlaoise Rotary Club is spearheading the first Irish edition of an initiative which will allow people with disabilities to experience the thrill of skydiving.
The Laois club has teamed up with the Portlaoise Irish Wheelchair Association, the VIP Hub for visually impaired and blind and physical disabilities and the Naas Rotary Club on the Handitandem community project.
To help make the dream a reality, the Portlaoise Club is inviting sponsorship from local and national businesses.
The goal of Handitandem, which began in the French town of Matha, is to provide a skydiving experience for people with disabilities. It offers a unique opportunity to promote empowerment, independence, and inclusion where they may not get this chance in life.
Portlaoise Rotary Club say that by making adventurous experiences accessible, physical and social barriers can be broken down to show that everyone—regardless of ability—can share in thrilling, life-changing activities.
The club says skydiving encourages confidence, fosters resilience, and provides an unforgettable sense of freedom, helping participants and their communities redefine what’s possible.
The President of Portlaoise Rotary, Maeve Furey said the club had learnt about the initiative from a Rotary club in France and was very excited to bring the initiative to Ireland for the first time.
“I first learned about ‘Handitandem’ on a visit to France and through my contact with Club Rotary de Matha in Charente-Maritime, who are the originators of the idea. We then established a ‘contact club’ relationship with them and invited them to Portlaoise. Once our members heard about the positive benefits the experience had on participants, they were just so determined to make it happen here and now we’re doing that with the invaluable support of our friends in Naas Rotary.”
“The aim of the project is simple – to offer people - who due to their physical disabilities would not normally have the opportunity to do so - the chance to skydive in a tandem jump. Although it's definitely not for me, I gather from those who have done it that a parachute jump is an exhilarating never to be forgotten experience. Our friends in Rotary de Matha have stories of disabled people who got weeks of pain relief after jumping due to the positive adrenaline effects on them. So, we see great potential benefits for people both mentally and physically in this initiative,” she said.
READ ALSO: Era ends for Friends of Portlaoise hospital
While the final date will depend on the weather, organisers are targeting a day in late May for the jump.
Pictured at the launch of ‘Handitandem’ at Clonbullogue airfield are Fergus McDonnell (Irish Parachute Club); Kas Jatkowska, Matt Kennelly (Portlaoise Rotary),Derek Griffiths (Assistant Governor Rotary Ireland, Maeve Furey, (President of Portlaoise Rotary Club) Seamus Parle (District Governor Rotary Ireland) Coleman Brouder (Irish Parachute Club), Michele Furey, Naas Rotary.
The Skydive will take place in late May. The date has not been finalised and will be subject to factors such as weather and plane and Tandem Masters availability, so some flexibility will be needed.
Costs for the project will include up to €400 per person so the organisers are seeking sponsorship.
"Your business can help us make a real difference for the people who need it most," said the organisers.
National and local sponsors are invited to get on board to get 10 to 15 people in the air, with each skydiver coming from either the Laois of Kildare Rotary Clubs.
Pictured at the launch: Derek Griffiths (Assistant Governor Rotary Ireland) Maeve Furey (President of Portlaoise Rotary Club) Seamus Parle (District Governor Rotary Ireland) and Colman Brouder (Irish Parachute Club).
There are still some spaces available for participants in the upcoming tandem event.
The District Governor of Rotary Ireland Seamus Parle urged people to participate.
“At the moment through the Irish Wheelchair Association we have about half a dozen people who are interested in jumping but we are also encouraging people with other disabilities to join us – some people who are vision impaired have already expressed their interest – so hopefully we can get the number of participants up to 12. Of course, initiatives like this require funding and that’s why we are looking for one main national sponsor as well as a number of local business sponsors who want to show their support for our skydivers," he said.
Pictured at the launch are Derek Griffiths (Assistant Governor Rotary Ireland and Gerry Shinners (Naas Rotary).
Rotary Ireland says it is always welcoming new members, whether you're a business professional, retiree, home-maker, student or at any stage of your life. If you’re interested in business and social networking, personal development, and making a positive impact in your community, consider joining your local Rotary club.