Charity Match Set For Munster V Leinster

Munster Rugby have announced that the Round 11 Guinness PRO12 fixture – Munster v Leinster – on St. Stephens Day will be the official ‘Charity Match’ for this season’s nominated charities.

The province recently announced its charity partners for the 2014/15 season – Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind and The Irish Heart Foundation.

Munster Rugby are working closely with each charity providing them with active support on specific projects, raising awareness and funds for projects in Ireland.

Munster v Leinster will be one of the flagship events of the year, our annual ‘Charity Match’. At the ground on the day match programmes will cost €;5, with one euro from every sale donated to our chosen charities.

Also, at half time, representatives from both charities will be welcomed onto the pitch for a presentation of signed Munster jerseys by members of the current squad.

Commenting on the announcement Claire Cooke, CSR Project Manager said “Each year it’s a very difficult job to choose between all the charities that apply to us and over the years and we have enjoyed working with all of them. This season we are really pleased and excited to be creating a new partnership with – Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind and The Irish Heart Foundation. We hope that by focusing with each charity on specific projects that are important to them we can make a real difference, through the involvement of our players, interaction at matches and the association of the Munster Rugby brand.”

Munster Rugby’s Corporate Social Responsibility programme was initiated in 2010 in order to formalise Munster’s involvement with charities each season. In addition to the annual ‘Charity Match’ which includes match day initiatives aimed at fundraising for the charities, the charities are also hosted at matches during the year, and the players are also involved in various awareness campaigns for the charities.

The Irish Heart Foundation
Today in Ireland more people die from heart and stroke related illnesses than from any other cause of death. However up to 80% of cardiovascular disease (CVD – heart disease, stroke and other vascular disease) is preventable. The Irish Heart Foundation is your national charity working to help everyone live longer, healthier lives free from heart disease and stroke. Over 90% of funding comes from the general public. Sadly, the number of people – Dads, Mums, sisters, brothers and friends – that lose their lives to heart disease and stroke are too high. With your help, more people can live longer because of research, early detection of risk, positive lifestyle changes, advances in treatments and a healthier environment.

Visit www.irishheart.ie or call 021 4505822 (Cork), or 01 668 5001 (Dublin) to learn more about their work or to make a donation.

The Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind
Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind provides Guide Dogs, Assistance Dogs and a wide range of training services to people who are vision impaired and children with autism. It is a national charity, based in Cork and each year trains people to achieve greater independence and mobility through its services.

The charity is reliant on public donations to fund its work – it’s 80% funded through fundraising initiatives and your support is vital to its work. It takes up to 2 years to train one Guide or Assistance Dog and the lifetime cost of a dog is €;38,000. All Irish Guide Dogs’ services are offered to people who need its services free of charge so money is not a barrier.

Visit www.guidedogs.ie for more information.