Choose one of these charities or your own and if you wish, let us know by sending us their logo so we can add them to the Viking marathon story.

Anyone that wishes to set up a fundraising page for their own chosen charity can do so at this link by clicking on Start Fundraising and selecting their chosen charity.
Link to the campaign with All Charities available for selection - Click here

 Our Charity Partner For 2024

 “As I Am”     https://asiam.ie/

AsIAm, Ireland's National Autism Charity, is dedicated to fostering a society in which every autistic individual is empowered to reach their personal potential and participate fully in society. The charity firmly believes that by enhancing the abilities of the autism community and dismantling the societal obstacles to inclusion, they can propel Ireland to become the world's foremost autism-friendly country.

Their array of projects and programs is meticulously designed to provide direct support to autistic individuals. These initiatives include a comprehensive full-time signposting service, regular monthly information events, and dedicated advocacy support. Currently, AsIAm boasts a team of 14 dedicated staff members, with the remarkable distinction that half of them are themselves autistic. This diverse and passionate team works tirelessly to advance the cause of autism inclusion and support throughout Ireland.

Autism Friendly Waterford https://autismfriendlywaterford.com/

Are a dedicated group of parents and allies, united by their commitment to the Autistic community of Waterford. Fueled by a shared vision, they have embarked on a journey as part of the AsIAm Autism Friendly Communities initiative. Their collective goal is to initiate concrete actions that will transform Waterford into Ireland's inaugural Autism Friendly City, a place where neurodiversity is not only embraced but also celebrated.

Waterford, acclaimed as the best place to live in Ireland, serves as the canvas for their ambitious undertaking. Their mission is to ensure that this title holds true for individuals of all abilities, aiming to cultivate a truly inclusive city and county where every member of the community can thrive and feel at home. With unwavering dedication, they are paving the way for a more welcoming and harmonious Waterford.

Our Charity Partner for 2023 The Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind & The Waterford Viking Branch

We are delighted to welcome The Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind & The Waterford Viking Branch as our 2023 Waterford Viking Marathon Charity Partner. Ireland's national charity providing Guide Dogs to those who are vision impaired and Assistance Dogs to the families of children with autism. 
You can find  more information about the charity on their website at guidedogs.ie

Sliabh gCua Community Centre

A group of local voluteers have recently come together and formed a committee for the development of a Community Playground on the grounds of the Sliabh gCua Community Centre in Touraneena Village.

Juniors for Juniors

Juniors for Juniors Foundation's Mission is to bring comfort and solace to young patients of University Hospital Waterford, by mobilising and raising awareness with children and our inner child to raise funds for the children's ward. Juniors for Juniors is focused on raising funds that go directly to the Children’s Ward at University Hospital Waterford. When a child is admitted as a patient to hospital, the world can become a much smaller place. Our main goal is to improve the child-friendly aesthetic of the Paediatrics ward. These children and their families deserve some home comforts during their hospital stays — and this is what we aim to provide.

Fundraise for Juniors for Juniors and become one of Junior's friends today. Learn more at juniorsforjuniors.ie

Make-A-Wish Ireland

Make-A-Wish Ireland has one simple aim – to grant the wishes of children aged between 3 and 17 years living with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. Since 1992, Make-A-Wish Ireland has granted wishes for more than 2,490 brave children across the country.

Every day Make-A-Wish receives applications from families in need of help, for wishes which allow children to escape routines of hospital visits and treatments , replacing them with carefree, life-changing experiences. To continue this work Make-A-Wish need your help. Fundraise for Make-A-Wish and become a wish granter today.

Children’s Health Foundation

Children’s Health Foundation is the new unified children’s healthcare charity, which exists to raise funds to support the vital, life-saving work that takes place every minute of every day in Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) hospitals and urgent care centres.

Formerly Temple Street Foundation and CMRF Crumlin, Children’s Health Foundation raises funds with the help and generosity of supporters across Ireland and beyond, and provides urgent funding where it is needed most across CHI – from funding essential equipment and patient and parental supports to making new services and ground-breaking paediatric research possible.

Thank you for staying by our side and for your generosity and kindness to every sick child in CHI at Crumlin and Temple Street.

Waterford Autism Social & Sports Action

WASSA is a group of parents who have children on the Autistic Spectrum and our aim is to benefit the community through participation, integration and inclusion into mainstream social and sporting activities.

JIGSAW

At Jigsaw, we are here to make sure that every young person’s mental health is valued and supported.
We offer a listening ear, and give expert advice and support to young people aged 12 – 25 years-old. We give families, teachers, and those who support young people’s mental health ways to cope and skills to be there for young people. Using our collective power to change attitudes we make sure that youth mental health is a national and local priority.
Mental health can affect every aspect of a young person’s life. We believe every young person must have the support that’s right for them, whatever they are going through.
Our vision is for an Ireland where every young person’s mental health is valued and supported.

Waterford Hospice

Waterford Hospice Movement provides medical and nursing care for patients with life limiting illnesses in their own homes and in nursing homes throughout Waterford City, County and South Kilkenny. They supply specialised equipment for pain control and comfort as well as psychological and social support for the patients and their families. Hospice affirms life and regards dying as a normal process.

In 2018, there is no dedicated Hospice Unit in the South East of Ireland. Waterford Hospice, in conjunction with the Health Service Executive has been working for many years to have the South East Palliative Care Unit delivered to the people of the South East.

The new state of art 20-bed unit will be located at the University Hospital Waterford and will act as a focal point for the delivery of specialist palliative care, inpatient, day services and community services, to patients and their families. The building has commenced in 2017 and completion expected in 2019 and €4.6 million raised to date. Of the €6 million pledged by Waterford Hospice towards the building costs, €4.6 million has been raised to date. We hope to help them reach there target..

CMRF Crumlin

CMRF Crumlin (the Children’s Medical Research Foundation) was established in 1965 and is the principal fundraising body for Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin and The National Children’s Research Centre. We drive fundraising to allow for research into the cause, treatment, care and prevention of children’s illness and disease and to actively support excellence in the care and treatment of sick children by providing additional equipment, facilities and assistance to patients and their families within Children’s Hospital at Crumlin. CMRF Crumlin Website

The RNLI

The seas, beaches and waterways watched over by our lifesavers are enjoyed by millions of people every year. But the water remains an unpredictable environment that can catch people out. People will always need the help of the RNLI. Their lifeboat crews saved 431 lives in 2016, and our lifeguards saved 127. That’s 558 people who wouldn’t be here today without their help, as well as countless friends and family who would never have been the same again thanks to the skill and commitment shown by our volunteer crew and lifeguards. The RNLI lifesaving service is run on almost entirely on donations - none of this is possible without ordinary people doing extraordinary things.

Waterford and South Kilkenny Branch of Down Syndrome Ireland

The Waterford and South Kilkenny Branch of Down Syndrome Ireland is a support group for families of and people with Down Syndrome in Waterford and South Kilkenny, Ireland. We work to help people with Down Syndrome reach their full potential by providing information and support to them, their families, carers and professionals.

To achieve our aim, we have a three-pronged approach - Activities for members with Down syndrome, Family Support Network including information & education, and raising awareness of Down Syndrome among professionals and the public.

We are an affiliate Branch of Down Syndrome Ireland which is dedicated to being the primary source of information and support to people with Down syndrome in Ireland.
www.dsiwaterford.ie

Christina Noble Children's Foundation

The Christina Noble Children's Foundation is an international partnership of people dedicated to serving children in need of emergency and long-term medical care, nutritional rehabilitation, educational opportunities, vocational training and job placement, as well as children at risk of sexual and economic exploitation.

The Foundation seeks to maximize the potential of each child. This is accomplished within the context of the family and the community whenever possible and always with love and respect for the dignity of each child as an individual. You can read more about their upcoming events and operations &raquo:

Fairy Footprints

A new charity which was set up by Carol Gorey and her friend Lynda Ryan both from Kilkenny. They provide memory boxes to bereaved parents who have lost a child. They have distributed over 100 boxes to hospitals in the last year.

Pieta House

Pieta House is renowned for its work in the area of prevention of self-harm or suicide in Ireland. They have nine centres for excellence across the country and they plan to open a centre in Waterford in 2015.

WVM would be delighted to assist Pieta House both with their fundraising for this centre and also through building awareness of their services at a national level. If you are interested in helping Pieta House raise funds through the WVM 2015 you can get a sponsorship card and T-Shirt by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or phone 061-484448. .

Alone - Helping Oder People in Need

ALONE works with the 1 in 5 older people who are at risk of homelessness, social isolation are vulnerable or in crisis. We provide supportive housing, befriending, community response and campaigning services to hundreds of older people on a weekly basis.

Lymphoedema Ireland

Lymphoedema Ireland was founded in 1995. Their volunteer network offers support, help and information to anyone in Ireland affected with lymphoedema. Lymphoedema is a long-term condition which has no cure. But it can usually be well controlled with early treatment focused on reducing limb size, improving function and reducing the risk of infection. The more familiar you are with lymphoedema, the better you can control the condition. They are seeking to raise awareness and funding and are just starting this year to encourage members, faimily and friends etc to run the Marathon. Full details are on their website www.lymphireland.com .

Cliona’s Foundation

Cliona's Foundation is a children’s charity whose aim it is to improve the quality of life of children and family members whose lives are affected by the trauma of serious childhood illness.

Aware

Aware undertakes to create a society where people affected by stress, depression, bipolar and mood disorders are understood, supported, free from stigma, and are encouraged to access appropriate therapies.

Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association

The Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association (IMNDA) is the only organisation of its kind providing care and support to people with Motor Neurone Disease, their families, friends and carers.

The Alzheimer’s Society of Ireland

The Alzheimer Society of Ireland works across the country in the heart of local communities providing dementia specific services and supports and advocating for the rights and needs of all people living with dementia and their carers.

South East Simon Community

Since 2004 South East Simon Community has been providing services to people experiencing homelessness and at risk of homelessness throughout the South East Region. We provide services throughout Waterford, Wexford, South Tipperary, Kilkenny and Carlow. Our Vision is that everyone in the South East can have a home - for life. Our Mission is to help people find a home and to support people to keep their home.

Foroige - Tramore Youth & Family Project

The project was established in 1996 and is operated by Foróige. The aim of the project is to enable young people to involve themselves actively and consciously in their own development and the development of society. The project engages young people aged 10 -18 in programmes that promote positive choices in their recreation and health. Our target group includes but is not limited to young people at risk of the following: unplanned pregnancy, substance misuse, becoming early school leavers, involvement in crime or young people who are experiencing difficulties at home, in school, with their peers.

Waterford Marine Search & Rescue

The W.M.S.A.R. service was set up in January 2010 by Declan and Darryl Barry to provide Waterford city and county with a 24 hour; 365 days-a-year search, rescue and recovery service. Since January 2010 the service has grown to 50 volunteers. We have 3 Boats ready to be launched. This includes a 6.3 Meter RIB as our primary rescue boat, two 4 meter Steady 400's for search and recovery. We also have a flood rescue boat and a 3 meter inflatable for small lakes and rivers.

Focus Ireland

Focus Ireland was established in 1985 by Sr. Stanislaus Kennedy and works with families, children and young people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness across Ireland. Focus Ireland Waterford has been delivering services in the South-East for over 14 year and now provides 200 homes for families and individuals in the Waterford area. In addition to housing provision Focus Ireland works to prevent homelessness through providing advice and information for those concerned about becoming homeless, childcare services, education services, youth and aftercare services and tenancy support services. Early access to advice and information can help to prevent people from losing their home and demand for our Advice and Information service increased by over 25% in 2014.

Feileacain (Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Association of Ireland)

Kilkenny SPCA

Founded in 1882 by the Marchioness of Ormonde, the charity was set up to promote the welfare of all animals, both domestic and wild. The first meeting took place in Kilkenny Castle on the 25th of April 1882 and became a registered charity in 1937. Today we are one of 17 affiliated member societies of the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ISPCA). Our aim is to improve the welfare of all animals, domestic and wild. KKSPCA’s work includes: Inspections of reported cases of cruelty and advising the Gardai accordingly. Providing shelter for animals in distress, including wild animals and birds. Attending accidents involving animals and providing relief as necessary. Helping to re-home animals. Helping owners find lost animals. Providing a subsidised neutering scheme through vouchers. Promoting education on animal welfare. We are a voluntary organisation, funded by donations only.

Purple House Cancer Support

Ireland’s 1st Community based Cancer Support Centre, founded in 1990. Registered charity in Ireland, number 12589, Charity Regulator No: 20037178. We provide professional Cancer Support & Psycho-Oncology services to people affected by Cancer. Supporting families affected by Cancer Nationwide in Ireland. We provide all of our services free of charge. We accept donations where possible to cover the costs of our services. We cater for patients, survivors, carers, families, friends and healthcare workers. We provide services to people of all ages, children and adults. We help over 1,500 families each year in Ireland.

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