Cape Town bound

MAKING A DIFFERENCE Lisa Dillon heads to South Africa this weekend with Mellon Educate.

Ger Flanagan

“IF there’s just one little life that I can bring a small bit of happiness to while I’m there, then that’s why I’m doing it.”
That’s the view of Ballyheane native Lisa Dillon who this Saturday, July 21, travels to Cape Town, South Africa with the Mellon Educate charity to provide much needed assistance to the children and teachers of the area.
A teacher in Claremorris BNS and sister of former Mayo senior footballer and current Ballintubber footballer Alan Dillon, Lisa will be providing her expertise in some of the poorest areas of Cape Town during her two-week stay, working with children and teachers to show them how they can utilise little resources to the best of the children’s learning abilities.
After teaching in Abu Dhabi for four years, Lisa was exposed to different elements of society in the Middle Eastern region and hopes that experience will stand to her. She feels the time is now right to try and give something back to the underprivileged.
“A couple of weeks ago I saw Seamus Gill from Westport fundraising for a similar Niall Mellon initiative and it sparked something in me,” she said. “I decided that I must chase that up and when I did, they asked if I was a teacher and would I be interested in doing this.
“I have never travelled to the townships like this and they have told us to be prepared to see the worst of poverty, but hopefully my time in Abu Dhabi will stand to me.

Overwhelming
“It has been quite overwhelming getting organised and getting my fundraising campaign going, but the closer I get, the more excited I am to get out there and do this one small thing for someone else.”
All Lisa’s costs will be covered by herself, meaning everything she raises will go to the charity, and she will take a supply of medical and school resources with her.
Her aim is to make €3,500 and she is already on her way there through her GoFundMe page and sponsorship cards dispersed in local businesses across Westport and Castlebar.
She says the support so far has been incredible and hopes it will continue to help her hit her target for this meaningful cause.
“Thanks to everyone for being so generous, for their well wishes and all who shared my Facebook posts,” she said. “Hopefully by me going out there, I’m not only bringing my energy, but I’m bringing all the well wishes of all the people who have supported me and together we can hopefully change the lives of even just one person.”

More
To donate to Lisa, log onto her GoFundMe page http://www.gofundme.com/lisasmelloneducatefundraiser