Pictured left: Winnie Eaken,Triona Lennard from Southern area Hospice, Dora Beacom, Stephen McAlinden.
On Friday 28th June the annual Banbridge Charity Show reception took place at Sintons in Scarva. Ray Buchanan, Show Director began the evening by explaining that Banbridge had been a charity show for a long time and donated funds to many charities over the years including the hospice on a number of occasions. He explained that those involved with the show are also passionate about the Hospice, hoping that the amount received on the evening would help towards the great work they do. Ray wished everyone at the hospice well in their future endeavours to fundraise towards keeping that work going.
As a result of money raised at this year’s Banbridge Charity Show, a cheque for £2,000 was presented to Triona Lennard for the Southern Area Hospice. Triona who has volunteered for over 20 years, provided an insight into the hospice and the importance of fundraising to the Charity.
Pictured above, L to R front row Maureen Wallace, Sylvia Nicholl, Ray Buchanan, Winnie Eaken, Triona Lennard, Fidelma Carroll, Stephen McAlinden. Back row Dennis Camblin, Nat Eaken, David Nicholl, Dora Beacom, Robin Wallace, Nixon Beacom.
The Southern Area Hospice is a charity providing care free of charge to local people with cancer and other terminal illnesses. Services provide an inpatient unit in daisy hill, a day hospice unit in Newry, outpatients clinic in Newry, Dungannon and Craigavon, a palative care team in Daisy Hill and Craigavon hospitals, a home care nurse in Armagh and Dungannon districts, bereavements support services at the Donaldson Counselling and therapy centre and hospice information resource centre. It cares for almost 1,000 patients and the hospice relies on 73pence in every pound coming from fundraising to enable them to care for the patients and ofcourse their families aswell. The fundraising department needs to raise around £50,000 per week to maintain the level of care they require with more than 80% of income going direct to patient care. The southern area services relies heavily on the generosity of local people and the support of a network of 300 volunteers who help staff deliver their services.
Ray thanked everyone for not only their attendance on the night, but their hard work to run the show each and every year commending the many volunteers it takes to pull together a two day show of it’s calibre. The show will be held on the second weekend in June next year!