The Blake Family Charity Calendar for 2013 in aid of Western Alzheimers.

This very special and unique fundraising calendar, produced by Martina Blake and the Blake family from Loughrea in memory of their father, husband and friend, Michael Blake.  The calendar celebrates Life, Love and Laughter and those aspects of our lives that can become lost with a diagnosis of Alzheimers disease.

Priced at just €10 the calendar is now on sale at a variety of outlets and from all of the Western Alzheimers Offices in Galway, Roscommon and Mayo.

READ THE STORY BEHIND THE CALENDAR

Western Alzheimers would like to extend a sincere thank you to Martina Blake and her family and friends who have produced a beautiful charity calendar this year in memory of the late Michael Burke who sadly passed away on May 19^th 2010.

Michael was diagnosed with Alzheimers disease in 2000 and from then on Martina and her mother Teresa dedicated their lives to looking after Michael in the loving environment of their own home.

When people shed their clothes it can be said that they have shed their dignity. Michael Blake lost his dignity when he was afflicted with Alzheimers disease, and for that reason Martina and her friends are proud to shed their clothes in order to raise much needed funds for Western Alzheimers, a Charity that is very close to the hearts of the Blake family.

Well done to Martina and her mother Teresa, and all of Martina s friends who made this Calendar possible;  Mary Dunne, Suzanne O’Loughlin, Ann Holland, Trisha O’Rourke, Edel O Rourke, Sharon O Rourke, Yvonne Lowry, and Alexandra Barnes.

The production of this Calendar has been a major undertaking and the substantial sponsorship from businesses and individuals throughout Loughrea and Ballinasloe is deeply appreciated.

Particular thanks to Johnny and Jacinta from Johnny Ryan Photography in Tuam for their professionalism and good humour, and to Print Supply, Main Street Ballinasloe for their help and support during all stages of the production of this very special Calendar.

The calendar is available for purchase in a variety of outlets and from all of the Western Alzheimers Offices in Galway, Roscommon and Mayo.

Click here for the latest information from TCD’s School of Social Work & Social Policy on Living with Dementia

http://www.socialwork-socialpolicy.tcd.ie/livingwithdementia/

Western Alzheimers Annual Tea Day Sponsored by Bainne ÚR

Bainne ÚR Fresh Milk is produced by our lovely cows and delivered fresh to your local shop by Strathroy dairies & John Daly and his wonderful staff at Ireland Foods.ie.

Keith Finnegan, GBFM, Launching Tea Day in Galway with John Grant CEO, Western Alzheimers

Eileen Kelly, Service Manager, Galway, Keith Finnegan, GBFM, John Grant, CEO & Mary Hynes.

John Daly, Director Western Alzheimers, David O’Reilly, D. WA, Jackie Kenny, D. WA, Keith Finnegan, GBFM, Eamon Bradshaw, D. WA, Tommy Kelly, D.WA, Dermott Commerford, GM Maldron Hotel.

Piotr Kotecki, Bainne ÚR – Sponsor, David O’Reilly, D. WA, Jackie Kenny, D. WA, Eamon Bradshaw, D. WA, Tommy Kelly, D.WA, Dermot Commerford, GM Maldron Hotel. Regina Hughes, Bainne ÚR, Keith Finnegan, GBFM,

Julia Konrade, Mary & Donal Madden, Tommy Kelly, Noel Higgins Regina Hughes Bainne Úr & John Daly MD – Ireland Foods.ie

Richael Timothy and Cassandra Tully both students from Castlerea Community School reached the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro. They raised €5,335 for Western Alzheimers.

EIGHT businesses have won prizes at the Connacht final of the 2010 Ulster Bank Business Achievers Awards.
The winners of the awards, in association with the Irish Independent, Enterprise Ireland and InterTradeIreland, will go on to compete with the winners from the other provinces for the national title and individual category title at the all-island final in April.
A total of 390 businesses from the North and the Republic entered this year’s awards, which aim to recognise and reward business success, regardless of business offering, service or location.
Companies were judged on a variety of merits, including financial performance, company milestones and achievements, future strategy and development of innovative products and services.
Medical device company Aerosurgical won the Innovation and Emerging Technology Award for its ‘AeroSurge’ platform, which delivers therapeutics into the abdominal cavity of patients during surgery to combat post-surgical complications such as pain and adhesions.
Mayo’s Major Equipment International claimed the International Business Award.
The company manufactures and exports a range of grass cutting, slurry handling and site equipment.
The gong for Social Entrepreneurship went to the Western Alzheimers, while the winner in the Start-Up Business category was Galway’s Irish Ambulance Training Institute.
Heaney Meats Catering won the Family Run Business award. Jennings, O’Donovan & Partners from Sligo came out on top in the Green business category. It operates in renewable energy, efficient energy use and environmental consultancy and services.
The Agriculture, Food & Drink Award went to Roscommon’s Gilligan Meats which provides meat products from their own stock.
The new Service Business Award was won by the Galway Clinic, which aims to improve cancer care services in the west.
The national winner will get a comprehensive package including an executive education programme at Harvard Business School, €50,000 worth of advertising space in the Irish Independent and a one-year membership of the Institute of Directors.
- Peter Flanagan
Irish Independent

From Left: John Murphy of Major Equipment; Patrick Power from Aero Surgical; Padraic Gilligan of Gilligan Meats; Dr Jimmy Sheehan from the Galway Clinic; Conor McCarthy of Jennings O’Donovan & Partners; Breege Newell from the Irish Ambulances Training Institute; and John Grant, Western Alzheimers, won prizes at the Connacht final of the Ulster Bank Business Achievers Awards.

Contact: 094 93 64900

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Maryfield Nursing Home Athenry, Co. Galway a 22 bed unit was purchased and commissioned in 2001 to meet the growing demand for Long Term and Respite Care. Read the rest of this entry »

These meetings helped carers to share a better understanding of the effect of Alzheimer’s Disease on the person suffering from the disease and on the families caring for them.

It also gave carers the opportunity to share first hand their own experiences of the problems, financial, physical and emotional, faced by Carers of Alzheimer Sufferers. Realising the importance of being listened to, our initial programme was to provide areas where Carers could talk.

We listened and understood knowing that comfort comes with understanding. Initially for Carers and Alzheimer Sufferers it is imperative that all legal obligations should be attended to. We advised that a Lawyer or Solicitor be engaged to check that wills are in order or to establish an Enduring Power of Attorney.

To help relieve some of the burden as the disease progresses, it is vital to complete proper financial arrangements if possible. Carers Allowance or other benefits may be available, these should be investigated and obtained as the Carer may have from 15-20 years caring for an Alzheimer Patient.