Gena Heraty honoured at Awards

Tuesday, 14 September 2010 10:16

Westport native, Gena Heraty, has been named as a joint recipient of the International Person of the Year award at this year's People of the Year Awards, which were broadcast on RTÉ One television on Saturday last.
Gena was honoured at the event, which is organised by Rehab and sponsored by QUINN-healthcare, for her selflessness, generosity of spirit and tireless work for the Haitian people who suffered a devastating earthquake in January.
Gena, from Carrarevaugh, Liscarney, has been working as an aid worker supporting special needs children in Haiti for the last 17 years.
She is director of special needs programmes at Nos Petits Frères et Soeurs, an organisation that provides a permanent family and home for 550 orphaned, abandoned and at-risk children who live in extreme poverty.

Gena has worked tirelessly to re-establish the rehabilitation clinic for children with disabilities that was completely destroyed in January's devastating earthquake.
Speaking of her work, Gena says: "We will not solve the problems of Haiti but we will make a difference to those we meet on a daily basis. We are helping families rebuild their lives and homes – little by little, one by one."
The award was presented to Gena by RTÉ presenter Keelin Shanley.
Last November Gena was one of the recipients at the Rehab Mayo Person of the Year Awards in The Castlecourt Hotel, Westport.
The annual event, now in its 18th year is organised by Rehab in conjunction with The Connaught Telegraph and Mayo County Council.
Following the devastating earthquake a massive fundraising drive was launched by Midwest Radio where listeners raised a staggering €234,201 for her restoration fund.
The monies raised were as a result of a massive car boot sale in Knock at the end of January, as well as numerous events organised across the province by listeners in the immediate aftermath of the earthquake in Haiti.