This article is from page 63 of the 2009-05-19 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 63 JPG
A FORMER businesswoman is fighting blindness with the help of the people of north Clare.
Aine Mahoney, who is_ severely visually impaired, has organised a 10-kilometre walk from Lahinch to Ennistymon in aid of the research and counselling charity.
Well aware of the difficulty of those facing blindness the 27-year-old hopes to raise much-needed funds for the charity Fighting Blindness.
The ambitious young woman had taken over Cascades Cafe in Ennisty- mon during the summer of 2005. She was healthy and happy, with no eye- sight difficulties.
At the beginning of 2006 she de- cided to put her own stamp on the café and closed for renovations.
Shortly after she lost almost all of her sight, despite medical interven- tion, including laser treatment. Ms O’ Mahoney even believed that some of the treatment added to her sight difficulties.
She has never lost hope of a cure being found for her condition, and in the meantime is determined to love TUK KOM seem ALONE
Despite being almost completely
blind, the brave young woman has now got her life back on track, and is working hard with the charity in a bid to help others.
Fighting Blindness funds world- leading research into cures and treat- ments for blindness.
It also provides a unique profes- sional counselling service for people with visual impairments and their families.
Providing such services requires a lot of support from the public, in- cluding financial support.
Ms O’Mahoney is hoping to raise as much money as possible for the charity this June bank holiday week- NF
The 10-kilometre walk will take place on June 1, from the Lahinch car park on the Liscannor Road.
Those taking part in the summer walk will enjoy the scenic route of the by roads from Lahinch to En- nistymon and back again.
Registration for the walk will take place on the day at 12pm and costs just €10. The walk will begin at aeye0F