Mayor’s Graninspires herchoice forcharity drive

Mayor Elisha McCallion with her nanny Betty Anderson, who suffers from Alzheimer's, at her 90th birthday celebrations.

Councillor Elisha McCallion, has announced that she will be actively supporting the Alzheimer’s Society throughout her year in office.

“I’m delighted to highlight the work being done by this extremely worthy charity. As I know from personal experience, the Alzheimer’s Society provides an invaluable support network for the families of suffering from this debilitating illness, and the organisation deserves the ongoing support of the entire community,” she said.

“Dementia can affect anyone. My own grandmother is currently living with the condition so I have first-hand experience of how it can affect all those left to ensure their needs are best met.

“I hope that I can raise some much needed funds during my year in office, and I would encourage the public to lend their support to the campaign either through donations, or by volunteering some time at one of the events taking place throughout the year,” she added.

Director of the Alzheimer’s Society, Bernadine McCrory, said: “We are delighted to have been chosen as the designated charity by the Mayor of Derry and Strabane, who will be fund raising for us during her term in office.

“The money raised over the next year will go towards providing vital services and helping people to live well with dementia in their local communities.”

The Mayor will be raising awareness by supporting events taking place through Dementia Week and a number of schemes including the Fit Family Challenge taking place in July and Mission Slim Possible taking place next January.

The public will have the opportunity to join in a number of events throughout the year raising money on behalf of the Alzheimer’s Society, including: Cross Border Half Marathon – Strabane – 12noon, Sunday, April 26; Jazz Festival Open Night – Guildhall, 6pm Thursday, April 30; Dementia Awareness Week - taking place May 18 -23; Dementia Roadshow – raising awareness and funds throughout the month of June; Memory Walk – The Mayor will start the Alzheimer’s Society flagship fund raising event on Sunday, September 6; Waterside Half Marathon – Sunday, September 13.

If you would like to volunteer for any of these events or be a part of the organisation’s volunteer fund raising group, please contact Maeveen McNabb, Alzheimer’s Society community fund raiser S&W NI on 028 8225 0103 or [email protected]

For more information on forthcoming events supporting the Mayor’s chosen charity please go to www.derrycityandstrabanedistrict.com