In less than 6 months Vision Sports has transformed the
world of 8 years old Annie Donnelly. Here, her mum Kathleen, tells us of the
days that changed Annie’s life…
“Vision Sports Ireland has opened up a whole
new world of opportunities for Annie. I never dreamed that she would be able to
try so many different sports. Annie wants to be like any other kid who plays
sports and through Vision Sports Ireland she is getting the chance to do this.
“Mayfest was in Annie's words one of the
best days of her life. I saw my daughter smile so much because she was so happy
to be part of a sporting event. On the day Annie played blind football, tried
blind tennis, blind golf, ran a lap of the athletics track and then enjoyed 3
laps of the track on a tandem bike. She was exhausted at the end of the day but
I knew it had been a fantastic and thrilling experience for her.
“Annie`s visiting teacher Kathleen Carroll
got in touch with Vision Sports Ireland earlier this year to enquire how best
to include Annie into GAA sports and Rahim Nazarali, the VSI national sports
development coordinator arranged for Peter Ryan and Darragh Stakelum to visit
the school.
“Annie was overwhelmed by them both as they
explained to her that anything is possible regardless of a disability. Peter
told her all about his time at last year`s Rio Paralympics and Darragh explained
all about blind football. As parents meeting two athletes with a vision
impairment gave us such hope for the future for Annie.”