ROTARY DONATION TO NICFC DOUBLED BY NORTHERN BANK
During the Rotary year the members of The Rotary Club of Donaghadee raised £1300 by selling car ballot tickets. The money collected was to be donated to the Northern Ireland Cancer Fund for Children. This £1300 was then matched by The Northern Bank. On 24.6.10. President Mike Camlin handed over a cheque for £2600 to Joanne Steel from the N.I.Cancer Fund for Children. Prior to the presentation Joanne gave a passionate and informative talk on the work of the charity to the club members. She opened her address by saying that every week in N.I. 3 children are diagnosed with cancer. At present 500 children are either in or have just finished treatment. The NICFC is a proactive charity supporting children from 0 to 24 years of age. They also support the brothers and sisters living with cancer siblings, parents and children with parents who have cancer. They help families cope with the fear, isolation and financial hardship caused by cancer. They provide help on a residential basis, holiday and respite care and direct financial aid. Their Family Programme employs two highly trained workers who provide initial contact offering practical social and financial assistance immediately after diagnosis’s. This is when it is most needed. They offer a one to one contact throughout the child’s illness. Their Family Support Service employs 4 workers who provide a holistic package of care with one to one support sessions, family work, constructive play and domestic help. Their Financial Support includes non means tested grants to families, a home heating scheme, a road miles scheme (to and from hospital) and a travel for treatment grant of £500 for families travelling overseas for special treatment. Their Youth programme includes KACTUS Kids against Cancer TACT Teenagers against Cancer 18+ Group These groups help young people to deal with the realities of the illness. They are encouraged to take part in residential weekends, sample independent living and take part in outdoor pursuits and activities. They also provide counselling and life training skills. The charity has two properties:- NARNIA, (a magical place for children). This facility situated at the foot of the Mourne Mountains, is open every weekend. SHIMNA, which is also at the foot of the Mournes provides accommodation for families who have not had the opportunity to be together as a family for many months. This year the charity needs £1.6 million to continue its work. They receive 3% government funding with 90% coming from N.I. businesses and the local community. President Mike Camlin on presenting the cheque said that he was amazed at the range of services that the charity provided and thanked Joanne for explaining this. He thanked Rotarians Susan Morrison and Garth Arnold for their help in obtaining the matched funding from The Northern Bank. |
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