Brain Awareness Week 2011 hailed a success
8 Apr 2011
Brain Awareness Week hailed a success
This March saw Headway's busiest Brain Awareness Week ever: staff, clients, and supporters hosted a total of 27 events around the country. Our focus this year was to introduce Headway to as many new people as possible. We felt this was very successful. Also, the great response we got from the public made us feel that the recognition of Brain Awareness Week, and Headway as a brain injury service provider, continues to go from strength to strength.
We ran a combination of awareness-raising, fundraising, and celebratory events during the week. Headway's Cork clients decided they wanted, not just to raise awareness of brain injury, but also to celebrate themselves and their achievements. With this in mind, it was decided to focus on the theme of Hope - hope for a new life, brighter days and stronger futures.
This great photograph was one expression of their efforts.
Other events during the week included the launch of a centre-produced newsletter called "Brain Fusion", written, designed and published by the clients for Brain Awareness Week 2011; information stands in Cork University, and Mercy University Hospitals; a coffee morning and psychology presentation in conjunction with the TAFT youth project in Togher; a presentation and information stand in University College Cork, and fundraising and awareness events hosted on campus by the CIT Headway Society.
Jackie McGann, Sophie Finucane and Jim Burke of Headway Cork's Brain Injury Rehabilitative Training Service raising brain injury awareness in Ballincollig Shopping Centre.
The staff and clients of Headway Cork would like to extend a huge thank you to those who helped and supported them during Brain Awareness Week 2011, particularly Blarney Castle, UCC, Ballincollig Shopping Centre, Brendan Canty, TAFT, CUH, MUH, and Meitheal Mara (especially Seamus!).
Headway Limerick clients held an Art Exhibition again this year in the Hunt Museum. Junior Minister for Trade and Development, Jan O'Sullivan T.D., was the guest of honour, and opened the exhibition on Friday, 4th of March. The Limerick centre also had a presentation on Acquired Brain Injury and on Headway services. At the Neurological Alliance of Ireland Conference in Dublin, on Tuesday 8th March, Headway Limerick client, Kathleen Poff, gave an excellent talk from her perspective as a service user. Other events held were the launch of the clients' Easter Egg Fundraising & Awareness Raising Project, a clients' music production, an information stand at the Crescent Shopping Centre, and a pub quiz hosted by the Limerick Lyons Club in aid of Headway Limerick, in Collins' Pub, Dooradoyle.
In Dublin, over 100 people affected by brain injury came for an Afternoon Tea, baked by staff and supporters. Star guest, Clelia Murphy ("Niamh" in Fair City) helped to make the event and the raffle, a great success. Rehabilitative Training and Day Service clients and staff also held information stands in a number of shopping centres and hospitals around the city during the week.
Pictured at Headway's Afternoon Tea on March 13th - from left to right:
Ben Gay, Alison Mansfield, Frances Mansfield & Patrick Mansfield. Frances attends the Dublin Family Members Group.
This is what one Clondalkin RT trainee felt about doing the information stands:
"I couldn't believe how many people were asking us about Headway. Lots of people said they hadn't
heard of us before and they wanted to know what Headway do. The information stand really helped
to get the name out there".
RT Clients in Finglas also gave a very successful talk to FETAC Healthcare students in Colaiste Ide. This is the impact it had on one of the students who attended:
"The talk by the Headway trainees gave me a real insight on what life is like with a brain injury. I never
knew anyone with a brain injury so I went in to the talk with only what I knew from class discussions
and books. I found the people in the Headway group to be amazing and strong individuals - listening
to each person's story from their life before and what life is like now, how easy it is to get a brain injury
or how a wrong decision can lead to one. These stories will stay with me for life."
In the Southeast, Catherine O'Hare, Headway's Information and Support Worker, did pieces on four local radio stations, held well-attended coffee mornings with Brainwave in Kilkenny, and with Acquired Brain Injury Ireland in Waterford, and presented at the launch of the new Stroke Support Group in Waterford. Catherine felt that getting slots on local radio, and the attendance of local politicians at the events, was a great boost this year, as well as indicating the growing recognition of Brain Awareness Week in the South East.
So, all in all, a great week was had by all.
A big, big, THANK YOU goes out to everyone who got involved, and gave of their time, creativity, and efforts in such a positive way.
Roll on Brain Awareness Week 2012 ...
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