This year we will be fundraising for The Heart Support Unit SJH and Epilepsy Services, AMNCH with minor contributions towards the Art and Alzheimer's programme in AMNCH and Trinity Access Programme.
We have chosen to support the main projects as we felt both were very much worthwhile and far-reaching. As heart failure is a chronic, terminal illness with increasing incidence, it is important to have a specialised service to cater for its growing patient population. Likewise with the Epilepsy Services; we agreed that a dedicated clinical area for these patients was important, especially for education and support purposes considering the social stigma surrounding the illness.
Each year, we give minor contributions to other projects which we feel are important and worthwhile. It has become somewhat of a tradition now to contribute towards Trinity Access Programme (TAP) which gives support to young adults, adults and ethnic minority students who come from socio-economic groups under-represented in higher education, to go to university. MedDay also works with TAP to hold an outreach day in January; inviting students and their teachers from such schools to participate in clinical skills medical students would learn during their early clinical years to encourage and awaken an interest these students may have in science or medicine.
We have also decided to contribute to Professor O' Neill's initiative Arts and Alzheimer's as we have been encouraged by his previous work with arts and medicine in the Care of Old and Elderly in AMNCH. An alternative therapy such as Art could have a lot of therapeutic benefit for the patient and their family dealing with a progressive illness such as Alzheimer's where medical treatment is not definative.
The big day is set for Friday the 4th November, and is made even bigger by the fact that it is Trinity Med Day's 10th anniversary. To mark the occasion, as well as the traditional day of street collection and on campus activities to raise funds, we will also be having a gala ball in the Convention Centre on Saturday 5th November, organised by the first chairperson of Trinity Med Day; Dr Alan Watts.
Over the past 10 years, Med Day have raised well over €450,000 for worthy healthcare projects in our affiliated hospitals. We hope to continue this success this year so get out, give generously and join in the celebrations!!
