It includes a collection of stories of kind donations and fundraising, as well as patient benefits from them.
St Vincent’s Foundation funded a Masterclass on Compassion in Care on 20th April 2015 in St. Vincent’s University Hospital. Nora Ellard & Ian Callanan summarise the day below.
Speakers at Masterclass with John Hickey
Prof. Mary Duff, Director of Nursing in St. Vincent’s University Hospital opened the proceedings, reminding us that the hospital was founded 180 years ago in the month of April by Mary Aikenhead. She spoke about the values of the hospital and the expectation that each person working in the hospital would strive to live these values. In particular she referred to kindness as being gentle to others and not expecting anything in return.
Paul Gallagher President of the Irish Nursing and Midwifery Board chaired the remainder of the morning sessions. Mr Gallagher, in his opening address, also spoke about the components of care to patients that encompass the holistic approach to quality healthcare. Mr Gallagher then introduced Dr Paul D’Alton, Senior Clinical Psychologist and Head and Clinical Lead of the Psycho-Oncology department with St. Vincent’s University Hospital.
Dr D’Alton gave an intriguing presentation. His opening lines spoke about “When Compassion Hurts”. Dr D’Alton told us about John Bowlby’s Attachment Theory, “From the moment we are born our brains are biologically predetermined to respond to care and kindness of others” .
In keeping with the title of the Masterclass, Dr D’Alton spoke about Compassion which is currently getting a lot of attention in literature and popular culture. Compassion is not about cultivating nice feelings for other people
Dr. Paul D’Alton
In his final words Dr D’Alton told us not all pain can be fixed. In the flow of life we didn’t choose to be born or anything else in fact. We need to develop our own capacity for attention. Only then we can develop compassion.
Mr Gallagher then welcomed Professor Brendan Drumm, Professor of Paediatrics at UCD and former CEO of HSE, who told the audience that most people who enter healthcare do so to make a difference. However, people get caught up in structures and processes. Prof Drumm spoke about the care of patients, interventions and medicine. In modern medicine he felt that over-intervention is an abuse of care. There are no quick fixes in healthcare. Achieving change will involve Government and society.
Mr Gallagher then introduced Ms Chrissie McGinn & Mr Richard Hewitt. They have worked as Wisborough Transformation for over 20 years providing courses, workshops and coaching programmes for leadership personal & spiritual development. Ms McGinn commenced by telling the audience that people who come in to Healthcare willingly end up doing non caring duties.
Prof. Mary Duff & Mr. Paul Gallagher
The final speaker of the morning was Professor Anabel Pelham, President of the National Association of Professional Gerontologists and professor and founding director of the Gerontology Program at San Francisco State University. Prof Pelham started by referring to Anam Cara and spiritual wisdom stemming from our Celtic world and Celtic imagination. She spoke about the possibility of bringing healing art to healthcare. She referred to creating caring communities and age friendly cities. Under her leadership some cities in Silicon Valley have created CAFÉs (Centre for Age Friendly Excellence).
The day was an enormous success. The audience came away with a deeper understanding of the challenges of caring of self and caring for others, with a greater realisation of the challenges but with a stock of evidence and tools to better manage the gaps “when compassion hurts”.
The Theatrical Cavaliers is a cricket club for actors and associated professions. They have been going since 1987, and for more than twenty years they have held an annual Gala Charity Quiz to raise funds for deserving causes.
Over the last 21 years they have raised over €110,000 for deserving causes and charities. This year the quiz is raising money for the Liver Unit at St. Vincent’s University Hospital.
In the theatrical world, the quiz has become a highlight of the social calendar – a thoroughly entertaining evening with a great atmosphere, witty hosts and outstanding prizes.
This year’s quiz will take place in the O’Reilly Theatre, Belvedere College, Great Denmark Street, Dublin on Sunday 26th April at 7.30pm. If you would like to come along, a table of four costs €80, and bookings can be made through Seán Duggan on 087 667 8866 or email duggansean@me.com
If you are interested in getting involved in other ways, the quiz committee is always on the lookout for prizes. Any contribution is welcomed and appreciated.
They are also looking for sponsors for question rounds. A donation of €100 will sponsor a round and play an important part in making the event a success. All donations will be acknowledged in the programme unless otherwise requested.
The popularity of cycling in recent times has lead to a wonderful development of cycling events to raise money for charity.
Cycling Safaris have organised many of these events which are enjoyable as well as contributing funds for causes.
If you would like to take part in a cycling event and raise money for something in St. Vincent’s please go to http://www.cyclingsafaris.com or call them on 01-2600749
On Thursday December 18th we held the draw for our Christmas Raffle. We had 28 great prizes and have been in contact with each of our winners (some of whom are pictured below)
This year the raffle and Christmas Cards sales campaign was to support Cancer Care & Research in the hospital and we raised nearly €6,100 for this cause.
Thanks to all who sold tickets and the many, many people who bought them.
We are particularly grateful to the following who generously donated prizes:
* Belfield Bike Shop, U.C.D.
* Bianconi’s Restaurant, Merrion Road
* Glow, Make Up & Beauty Salon, Merrion Shopping Centre
* Goodbody Stockbrokers
* Health Food Shoppe, Merrion Shopping Centre
* Home Instead Senior Care
* Island Living Gift Shop, Merrion Shopping Centre
* Jim Mitchell, S.V.U.H.
* Kylemore Service Group
* Noonan Services Group
* Remané Jewellers, Merrion Shopping Centre
* Stillorgan Park Hotel, Dublin
* Tara Towers Hotel, Dublin
* TESCO Merrion Shopping Centre
* The Merrion Inn
* Tony Walsh Pharmacy, Merrion Shopping Centre
The Autumn 2014 edition of “Friends of St. Vincent’s” is now available under the Newsletter section on our website at https://www.stvincentsfoundation.ie/about-us/donors-newsletter/ . I hope you enjoy the many examples of generosity to the hospital.
We have included some details of the many projects that have been enabled by donors. There is interesting material also on current research and medical issues.
As always, we stress that St. Vincent’s Foundation is run on a voluntary basis so all donations and fundraising proceeds go to the cause selected.
Thank you for your continued support.
We have great value in Christmas Cards – this year our campaign is supporting Cancer Care in St. Vincent’s Hospital.
Assorted packs of 10 cost €5 and each card highlights that it is supporting St Vincent’s.
Because St. Vincent’s Foundation is totally voluntary, all proceeds go to Cancer Care.
Please follow the link under “How to Help” on our website to see more or to order cards.
For every pack of cards purchased, you will also have a free entry in our Christmas Raffle with great prizes.
Jillian McNulty from Longford, a C.F. patient in St Vincent’s, has been raising money for C.F. here for many years.
As well as her amazing energy, Jillian has been hugely creative in the range of fundraising events.
In July this year she organised and led a group to climb Croagh Patrick. The result of the gruelling challenge was that she raised €1,011 for St. Vincent’s and a further €211 for C.F. Ireland.
Thank you again Jillian.
On Thursday, October 23rd, Christine Kearney held her Halloween Raffle to raise money for Breast Cancer Research. In what has now become an annual event, Christine and her friends Catherine and Katie raised almost €2,000 for this great cause. This brings to almost €16,000 the funds that Christine has raised from raffles at Halloween and Easter each year
There were 52 prizes to be won and they made for a great display at the hospital reception.
The atmosphere on the day was wonderful with Christine, Katie and Catherine dressed as clowns adding colour and fun to the proceedings. (see photos below from the day)
We are deeply indebted to Christine for her continuous work for St. Vincent’s patients.
For many years now the medical students of UCD and their supporters have organised a fundraising day for various charities including St. Vincent’s.
This year it takes place on Friday October 17th. On that day over 600 people will be involved doing bucket collections and busking to raise money.
St. Vincent’s is always one of the selected charities and the contribution of the UCD Med Day is very important to us.
No doubt you will see the collectors in their distinctive blue and white shirts on the roads near the hospital. Please support them in any way you can.
You can also contribute to the Med Day at http://www.mycharity.ie/event/ucd_med_day_2014
