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Boat club donates funds to
dementia unit
19.11.18
MOVILLE Boat Club made
a cash presentation to the Ard Aoibhinn Dementia
Unit in Carndonagh Community Hospital last week. The
cash came from funds raised at a special women’s
boat race in September.
The Victoria Thompson Ladies Sailing Race is held
every summer in honour of baby Victoria, who died at
the age of nine months as result of a rare disease
and life-limiting condition. The presentation was
made by Victoria’s mother, Sharon Thompson.
“The Victoria Thompson Ladies Sailing Race first
took place when Victoria was cared for in the Laura
Lynn, children's hospice in Dublin,” said Sharon.
“It went on to inspire a large legacy. The annual
race is a special way of remembering Victoria but it
also highlights year on year, the need for more
children's palliative care services.”
“The Victoria Thompson Ladies Race is an ideal way
for the club to honour Victoria’s memory and to
support the call for more children’s palliative care
services,” said Moville Boat Club media secretary,
Trish Hegarty. “We also choose a local or national
charity each year to donate the funds raised at the
race. Club members this year wanted to show their
support for the Dementia unit because it plays such
an important role in the lives of so many members of
our families and our community.” |
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Pictured at the Moville Boat Club
presentation to the Ard Aoibhinn Dementia unit in
Carndonagh Hospital, Left to Right are: Mary Bridget
Shiels, Agnes Burke, Siobhan Price, Nurse Manager
Eileen Cooke, Sharon Thompson, Kim Banks, Lisa
Hutchinson & Trish Hegarty. |
Also, at the
presentation was Kim Banks, skipper of ‘Megaera’,
the winning boat in the Victoria Thompson Race. Kim
said the annual race was “a great way for the ladies
to get together, to sail and to have fun, while
remembering Victoria in a special way. When we
started the Ladies Race in 2012, we decided
unanimously that it would be in honour of Victoria.
The race has turned into one of the most competitive
events for the ladies, and the most fun!”
The cash presentation of €230 was accepted by Eileen
Cooke, Nurse Manager at Ard Aoibhinn, the Dementia
unit in Carndonagh. Eileen said funds donated to the
unit help to provide days out and activities for the
patients. “We have 16 beds in our small residential
unit. Six of these are for long-term care, and the
rest are used by patients who are here for respite
care, or to be assessed.”
“Patients can be referred by their GP or Public
Health Nurse but families can also contact us
directly and refer a relative themselves.” Eileen
said respite patients normally come for a short stay
every 6-weeks. “Most of these patients are being
cared for at home by a family member, perhaps with
the support of a home help. But carers regularly
need a break and that is what we are here to
provide.”
“While they are here, patients will have medical
checks and may also see an Occupational Therapist,
Physiotherapist, dietician, podiatrist or
audiologist. They can also take part in activities
like music sessions, day trips, and on Friday’s a
visit to the Dementia Café at Tul na Rí.”
“Anyone can ring us to come in and visit the unit
and have a chat about what we do. To donate funds to
Ard Aoibhinn or to visit please call 074 93 29211.”
Moville Boat Club may be contacted by email
movilleboatclub@gmail.com . |
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