Hares on the March

Newtown School Waterford, Co. Waterford, 2016

CATEGORY: Make Our Community Better Challenge

The Idea

The YSI project team from Newtown School in Waterford, heard the story about the life and death of “Jack” describing the difficulties for children born with severe, often terminal, neurological illnesses and the social, emotional and physical impact on their families. Statutory nursing provision to support families with seriously ill children is limited. Families need support to care for children at home rather than in institutional settings. They raised funds and awareness for this social issue.

The Action

The team hosted a design competition by engaging four schools and community groups to decorate hare sculptures for their community art initiative. They designed a 5km fitness trail around the hares and invited 5,000+ students. The team completed a marketing project through social media, word of mouth, press releases, radio/television interviews, business briefings, launch event, school visits, newsletters, rotary presentation, emailing fitness trail participants or mentions by hosts, sponsors, mentors, much of the Waterford community has heard about Jack and Jill. As a group they raised over €7000 sponsorship for their hares, which provides 437 hours of nursing care. In total, the team raised €13,500 for the foundation.

The Impact

"As a pilot project, it has gone beyond expectations and if a similar response was received from other schools around the country we would be absolutely delighted. If it hadn't been for the enthusiasm of the young people in Newtown we might never have gone down this route.” - Dave Southern, “The Jack and Jill Foundation.”

2016 Making Our Community Better

2016 Fun-raising Award

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