|
|
Donegal teacher walks ‘Home to
Home’
03.07.19
A TEACHER from St
Johnston, Elaine McConnell, along with her dog Lucy,
will be pushing herself to the limit as she takes
part in a solo 145km three-day ‘Home to Home’ walk
to raise awareness and much-needed funds for The
Alzheimer Society of Ireland and the Alzheimer’s
Society in Northern Ireland.
Elaine, who works as a behaviour support teacher in
Longstone Special School in Dundonald, Belfast, is
leaving her home in East Belfast at 7am on Friday,
5th July and will arrive in her family home for a
special barbecue with family and friends in St
Johnston on Sunday evening, 7th July.
Dementia is very close to Elaine’s heart and she was
inspired to organise this solo adventure by her
uncle, Bill McVitty, who lived with dementia for 10
years. Bill was always trying to ‘go home’ which is
where the idea of ‘Home to Home’ came from. Bill
sadly passed away in May after being cared for at
home by his wife, Doreen, for many years. |
 |
|
There are an estimated 2,000 people
living with dementia in Donegal. People can make an
online donation to Elaine at
JustGiving.com . |
Elaine now wants to
complete the challenging walk in Bill’s memory and
has been taken aback by the support that she has
received so far – with one hotel, the O’Neill Arms
Country House Hotel in Toomebridge in Antrim,
offering a free stay for her first night on the
road. Graham/Farrans Construction Joint Venture has
gone out of their way to allow Elaine access to the
site of their almost completed 7.3km of new A6 dual
carriageway that will allow Elaine to walk safely,
traffic free from Randalstown to the Toomebridge
bypass and Charles Hurst, Belfast have generously
donated a minibus for three days to act as a support
vehicle that can transport any volunteer walkers
back to their cars if they have joined Elaine for a
stretch.
Elaine will be joined by friends and family members
at various points along the way and she is
encouraging others to follow her progress on social
media or make a donation online.
All the money raised will be split evenly between
The Alzheimer Society of Ireland and the Alzheimer’s
Society in Northern Ireland.
Elaine said: “I am really looking forward to raising
awareness and funds for these great charities north
and south of the border to show people who are
caring for people with dementia in particular that
there is support out there and to raise the
importance of people talking and seeking help and
advice. I also want to highlight the issue of caring
for the carer who do so much work and are heroes in
our own communities.”
There are an estimated 2,000 people living with
dementia in Donegal. The
Alzheimer Society of
Ireland, provides numerous services in including
Day Care, Social Clubs, Alzheimer Cafes and Home
Care. People can make an online donation to Elaine
at
JustGiving.com . |
|
