The Down Syndrome Centre’s fashion-forward campaign, Buy My Dress takes place in a one day pop-up shop at the g Hotel on Saturday May 28 from 10am to 6pm. Buy My Dress is supported by Kellogg’s Special K and invites women to dig out the many unwanted dresses hanging in wardrobes nationwide and donate them to this exciting fundraiser in aid of Down Syndrome Centre.
Now in its third year, this charity event has raised some €90,000 to date and will expand this year to take place in eight centres countrywide; Dublin, Gorey, Kilkenny, Cork, Tralee, Limerick, Castlebar, and Galway.
With the help of teams of volunteers who will organise each county event, the charity hopes to sell in excess of 6,000 dresses and is calling on women in homes, workplaces, and clubs nationwide to donate a dress over coming weeks. Everything from day dresses to evening dresses (lightly used and in good condition ) can be donated at drop-off points which have been set up in selected credit union branches, pharmacies, and Unislim classes countrywide. For more details see www.buymydress.ie
Local business woman Máirín O’Reilly of Mór Public Relations, who has supported this charity since its inception, commented: “Buy My Dress has been such a phenomenal success. Women simply love fashion and the idea that good money spent on a past garment can be converted into funds for charity, has great appeal. The organising team are looking forward to the day and welcome any offers of assistance and dress donations.”
In 2010, some 1,000 dresses were collected from the public for Galway Buy My Dress. This year, Down Syndrome Centre hopes to raise €100k from the eight Buy My Dress events to continue funding for Down Syndrome Liaison Nursing Service which provides invaluable advice, support, and guidance to parents with a new child with Down syndrome.
The campaign has also been licensed by Down Syndrome Centre to a German charity and Buy My Dress will take place in Munich on June 2. Other additions to this year’s campaign will include the sale of a Buy My Dress brooch which has been designed for the charity by jewellery designer, Rachel Swan, and which will be sold for €5 on the day. All members of the public are invited to go along and snap up a bargain on May 28 at the g Hotel. For more information on the Galway event visit www.buymydress.ie, contact [email protected] or telephone 086 3443161.
