Orla Barry from Newstalk, Flora Women's Mini Marathon. © Sightsavers
Orla Barry Leading Team Sightsavers Ireland in the 2010 Mini Marathon
April 2010
Today, Monday 12th April 2010, Orla Barry, journalist and host of Newstalk's Weekend Blend, announced that she will lead Team Sightsavers Ireland in this year's Flora Women's Mini Marathon. Orla's goal is to raise awareness around the issue of women and blindness and inspire other women to run, walk or crawl the 10km race in aid of Sightsavers Ireland!
"I was inspired to lead Team Sightsavers Ireland after learning that two out of every three people in the world who are blind are women. A staggering 80% of global blindness is preventable or treatable, which means over 20 million women are needlessly blind," commented Orla Barry.
"The Mini Marathon is a great opportunity to highlight this problem and raise vital funds for Sightsavers Ireland. I hope lots of women will join me on race day 7th June to make a real difference and, of course, to have some fun!" Orla added
In the developing world, women are doubly disadvantaged by their gender and disability. Cultural constraints, cost, childcare commitments and a lack of access to information conspire to create more blindness in women than in men.
Sightsavers Ireland funds programmes in 21 developing countries which work to eliminate avoidable blindness and promote equality of opportunity for people who are visually impaired.
Women interested in running the Flora Women's Mini Marathon as part of Team Sightsavers Ireland can get more information on here or by calling 01 6637666 and you can follow Orla's progress on Facebook.
For further media information please contact Rachel Garvey at Conway Communications: Tel. 01 707 1704 / Mob. 085 7656005
