Embrace FARM are holding the very first farm accident survivors conference in the Midlands Park hotel in Portlaoise on Saturday, November 25th at 12pm for the farming community in Ireland.
Farm accident survivors get to share how they have adjusted to daily living in the months and years following their farm accident.
Peter Gohery is an organiser of this event and a director with Embrace FARM from East Galway who lost his leg in a PTO accident on his farm in 2009.
He said:
“There are many deep rooted issues which deeply affect both the survivor of the accident and those that have witnessed it and dealt with the aftermath. These include post-traumatic stress, rehabilitation and occupational therapy, who runs the farm, legal issues, insurance claims are among the many issues facing survivors and their families.”
Telling their story will be survivors, Kerri Leonard from Co. Meath who was driven over by a tractor at the age of six and now competes with the Irish Para Olympics team, Liam O’Keeffe from near the Cork /Kerry border who was attacked by a bull and William Sawyer from Northern Ireland who lost his arm in a PTO accident.
Niamh O’Connell, Duhallows, Co .Cork and Alison Leonard, Durrow, Co. Laois will both speak about their husband’s accidents and how family life has changed. Niamh’s husband Richard is now in a wheelchair and Alison’s husband Dominic lives with a brain injury.
Professional speakers on the day will talk about prosthetics and adapting machinery to allow you to continue to farm if that is your wish.
Mental health trauma experts will talk about the unseen scars from your accident and the impact it has had to family life.
Legal & Insurance experts will also speak about dealing with claims and succession on your business.
The day is an opportunity for survivors and witnesses to get information and support from others who find themselves in a similar situation to you. It is also an opportunity for you to voice your concerns and highlight what help you need to live your life to the full.
The day begins with light refreshments at 11.30am which sets the friendly atmosphere for the remainder of the day.
The event is free of charge to attend.
You can register your attendance at embrace.farm@gmail.com or text 085-7709966. For more information you can contact Peter Gohery at 087-4183620. The hotel is situated a seven minute walk from Portlaoise train station. Disability parking is available at the hotel.
Embrace FARM (FARMING ACCIDENTS – REMEMBERED & MISSED) was founded by Brian Rohan and his wife Norma, a farming family from Shanahoe, Co. Laois, in 2014 to provide a bereavement support group for farm families who, like them, have lost a loved one or, indeed, suffered serious injury in a farming accident.
