Solas Centre launches the 2012 South East Run for Life

It’s time to get active and run for life once more. That is the call from the organisers of the Solas Centre South East Run for Life this week as they announced details of the 2012 event which takes place on Sunday October 14th.

The run looks set to be bigger and better than ever, with a new route for those taking part this time round.  Every year across Waterford, Wexford, Tipperary, Carlow and Kilkenny 2000 people will be diagnosed with cancer. That is why the organisers are hoping to garner the support of 2,000 participants to take part in aid of the Solas Centre.

The centre moved to its new state of the art facility in Ardkeen eighteen months ago and is now regarded as the leading cancer support facilities in the country. The centre is a haven for those affected by cancer (including those diagnosed with cancer, family members, carers and friends) who wish to avail of confidential informal support services such as counselling, art psychotherapy therapy, message, reflexology, support groups provided by highly trained individuals in a professional manner.

A staggering €265,000 was raised from last year’s South East Run for Life but the work must go on and organisers appealed this week for people to get active and get involved. Brian Creedon, SECF Chairman, said “The Solas Centre wouldn’t exist if it wasn’t for the generosity of the local community. But it is a work in progress. We must keep fundraising to ensure that the highest quality cancer support services are available to those affected by cancer in the South East.”

Do your bit and take part in this year’s South East Run For Life. Sponsorship cards are available from the Solas Centre, on our website www.solascentre.ie, Beat 102 103 studios, Sam McCauleys and AIB branches. For further information contact the Solas Centre on 051 304604 or check out the ‘Solas Centre South East Run for Life’ Facebook page.

18th year for Dunmore Bluegrass!

Jeff and Vida return to Dunmore Bluegrass

What began in 1995, as a small intimate music session, bringing together an eclectic group of bluegrass musicians, has grown and flourished and this year sees the Guinness International Bluegrass Festival return to Dunmore East, Co. Waterford for its 18^th year.

The festival will take place in the picturesque fishing village from August 23^rd to August 26^th and the festival organisers are delighted to welcome back perennial bluegrass favourite, Jack Grace, aka The Martini Cowboy.

Jack Grace and his band will headline an enviable line up of bluegrass artists for Ireland’s only free bluegrass music festival and fans of bluegrass, country, rhythm, roots, new grass and blues are expected to descend on the picturesque fishing village to enjoy free music events played throughout the village’s pubs and hotels.

The Strand Inn, The Haven Hotel, The Spinnaker, Powers Bar and Azzurro, will play host to dozens of free gigs throughout the weekend with local, national and international bluegrass names playing a variety of traditional and contemporary bluegrass music.

According to Mick Daly, Festival Founder and Organiser, this years festival promises something for all music lovers.  “Headline act Jack Grace brings his own unique urban style to bluegrass, while there will be the more traditional bluegrass names featuring at the festival, such as The Cotton Pickin’ Rodeo Clowns, the Mons Wheeler Band, Land’s End and The Jeff and Vida Band.”

“The Jeff and Vida Band from New Orleans went down a storm when they performed at the festival back in 2009.  We are looking forward to this New Orleans acoustic roots band performing a repertoire of original material spanning from Appalachian bluegrass to alternative country.”

“Visitors can also expect some high energy performances from Galway band Mikey and the Scallywags, returning for their second year and bringing with them a variety of entertainment that ranges from gypsy to bluegrass to folk to storytelling”, he added.

The 18^th International Bluegrass Festival will also provide a welcome economic boost for the local economy.  Last year there were almost 20,000 visitors to the village over the three day festival.

The 18^th Dunmore East Bluegrass Festival kicks off at 7pm on Thursday, August 23rd at The Spinnaker Bar and Restaurant and will feature bluegrass and blues bands, playing free gigs in the villages’ pubs, restaurants and hotels.

For more information about the 18^th Guinness International Dunmore East Bluegrass Festival in Co. Waterford visit www.discoverdunmore.com

Waterford Rotary Club welcomes new President

Waterford Rotary Club is proud to announce Kjell Nolke as its new President, taking the reigns from Kathleen Fitzgerald.

Kjell has been an active member of Rotary for six years. Originally from Killarney, with German parents, Kjell's commitment to the club has earned the respect of fellow members who voted him in as their new president for the forthcoming year.

Mr. Nolke expressed how much he is looking forward to the coming year, "It is a huge honour for me to become President of Waterford Rotary Club. I still feel very much a newcomer to Waterford, but have made so many good friends in the club. The sense of family amongst members and achievement in all the events run by the club makes it very much a part of members’ lives.”

“Being self employed, membership of the club is the best way to get me out into my community and become involved in the clubs local, regional as well as international fund raising events. This year will be very exciting for the club, most notably with the advent of the new Waterford Christmas Winterval Festival. This exciting festival will be a wonderful stage for our Rotary Christmas tree".

Kjell is an optometrist, running Nolke opticians in Ardkeen and Tramore together with his wife Yvonne. They have two children Ewan (10) and Katie (8).

Is Pain Affecting Your Game?

 
What do Graeme McDowell, Tiger Woods and more than 75% of the golfers in the PGA have in common? They receive regular chiropractic care. Amateur golfers can also reap the performance-boosting rewards of regular care. 

John Dineen of Dynamic Chiropractic in Waterford in conjunction with Ryan Hunt PGA Golf Manager at Faithlegg Golf Club is launching a golfers health initiative this July.  Both are offering expert consultations at Sienna Home Furnishings in the city (opposite John Mitchell’s golf) as part of their ‘Is pain affecting your game?’ afternoon on Saturday July 14^th from 2pm to 5pm.

Proper posture - both on and off the course - is key to avoiding golf-related injuries and improving your game. For instance a level back swing is dependent on proper posture. A back swing is actually two motions in one: the up-down movement of the arms and the rotation of the body - both directly dependent on spinal health. That is why a healthy spine is so vital to a golfers’ game. If the spine is restricted the swing will be restricted. 

If we tend to sit, sleep and lift in the incorrect positions during the week, we tend to accumulate tightness in our bodies. Then when we unleash all on the 1^st tee problems can quickly follow, as well as compromised performance. While the correct clubs appropriate to your height are very important, equally important could be your armchair chair, if it leaves you slouched and strains your spine.

Warming up is essential.  However, despite overwhelming evidence supporting the need to warm up, most golfers remain cold to the idea.  An integrated and complete approach is often best when succeeding in any sport.  So perhaps next time you are trying to scrape a shot or two off your round remember the importance of all that happens to your body before you even place your tee.

Dynamic Chiropractic is an established Waterford city centre practice that specialises in the manual care of pain and injury. Computerised gait analysis is also used at the clinic to diagnose incorrect biomechanics of the foot. Effective treatment can help optimise performance in all of life’s activities, including golf. 

Ryan Hunt PGA Golf Manager at Faithlegg Golf Club in Waterford agrees, “In general the back is such an important part of the body no matter what physical activity you are carrying out.  And when it comes to the golf swing this is very true! In an ideal set up position the spine needs to be kept relatively straight as the body bends forward at waist level, this position needs to be maintained for the majority of the swing up until the finishing position.

The source of golfers back pain can originate from lack of flexibility, faulty swing mechanics and lack of physical ability to name but a few. These problems can ease overtime through exercise or other assistance such as providing your back with proper support when resting or sleeping. If the golfer gives his/her back the attention it deserves, overtime the golfer will reap the benefits resulting in improved strength/stability, correct swing mechanics and more importantly a true, powerful golf swing.”

For back-care while you are sleeping, Sienna has the most comprehensive collection of high quality beds, mattresses and pillows available in the South East. The latest innovations in bed and mattress technology, including memory foam, latex and gel beds are all available from Sienna who also exclusively stock the Bed Tailor® Collection which offer as selection of natural fillings such as cotton, wool, mohair, cashmere and silk.  These naturally breathable filling provide a cooler sleep surface, and combined with the most advance spring technologies, to provide the ultimate support for the natural curvature of the spine.   
  
Sienna has a number of exclusive seating products that are specifically suited to assist individuals with back problems, products such as Zerostress®, a collection of reclining armchairs and sofas which are specifically designed to promote good sitting posture. The fully trained and certified team at Sienna are on hand to help you make the bed or seating choice that is right for you. 

For more information on back care for golfers avail of your free expert assessment and consultation with John Dineen of Dynamic Chiropractic and Ryan Hunt PGA Golf Manager at Faithlegg Golf Club at the Sleep Room in Sienna Home Furnishings at the Tramore Road Business Park in Waterford City, anytime from 2pm to 5pm this Saturday July 14^th. 

And the good news is, anyone who attends the assessment at Sienna on the 14^th is entered into a draw for a €200 voucher from John Mitchell’s Golf, which is located opposite Sienna Home Furnishings.

Enterprising Opportunities for Waterford Tourism

On Wednesday June 20th, Waterford City Enterprise Board launched its ‘Tourism Opportunities’ programme. 

The programme is designed to encourage Waterford City businesses not currently engaged with visitors to the City to add a tourist element to their income stream. 

 Waterford City Manager Mr. Michael Walsh spoke about what Waterford City Council is doing to encourage tourists to visit Waterford. Tara Kerry of Failte Ireland spoke on the type of tourists visiting the city and what activities they are looking for, while Dr. Pat Walsh of RIKON explained how businesses can evolve and change to encompass a tourist element. Finally Ciaran Cullen Waterford City Enterprise CEO outlined how the Enterprise Board can help those interested in pursuing the programme.

Mr. Cullen explained that the Waterford City Enterprise Board can offer grant aid for website development, design and marketing and how they can also provide training and one to one mentoring. “The programme is intended to be as flexible as possible so it can assist individuals, businesses or groups intent on creating a packaged offer."

"The purpose of this evening’s launch is to explain our programme and ask those interested to take the next step and sign up for further idea development workshops with a view toward creating an effective and profitable tourism offering.”

Those that couldn’t attend the event and are interested in participating in the programme can phone Celia at the Waterford City Enterprise Board on 051-852883.

Home Instead Senior Care highlights World Elder Abuse Awareness Day

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day takes place on Friday, June 15^th.  Every year this international initiative raises public awareness about elder abuse in its many forms; physical, sexual, psychological, financial, discriminatory and neglect.

Awareness of elder abuse has risen in the last year with a 9% increase in the number of alleged elder abuse cases received by the HSE last year.  In 2011, 2,302 cases of elder abuse were reported to the HSE, the largest number of cases in any year since the service began in 2007.

The increase in reported cases has been welcomed by age support groups, including Home Instead Senior Care, which believes that there is more awareness of the problem of elder abuse, which heretofore had been widely under-reported.

According to Danette Connolly, Director of Care, Home Instead Senior Care, Waterford, these figures indicate that there is a broader awareness of elder abuse than ever before.

“Whilst elder abuse remains a horrific and very real issue, the HSE findings are to be welcomed as it shows a marked increase in the number of cases being reported.  As health care professionals, it is our duty to ensure that families of seniors and the wider community come forward to report instances of abuse that they are aware of.”

According to the HSE report, after self neglect, psychological abuse was the most common type of abuse reported, accounting for more than one in three cases.  This was followed by financial abuse, including theft, fraud, exploitation and pressure in connection with wills, property and inheritance. Two thirds of alleged victims in 2011 were women and there was a higher referral rate among the over-80s. 

Ms. Connolly added "If you suspect an ageing family member, neighbour or friend is the victim of abuse, there are certain steps you can take and we would encourage all to do the following;

·        Listen to seniors and their caregivers to make sure they are being cared for appropriately. 

·        Report suspected elder abuse to your local HSE office or An Garda Siochana.

·        Visit ageing loved ones as often as possible so the older person sees you as someone they could trust and talk to about any difficulties they may have.

Home Instead Senior Care advises anybody who is concerned that an elderly person in the community is at risk of abuse to contact the HSE Information Line on 1850 24 1850 or the Waterford Home Instead office directly on 051 333966.

Home Instead Senior Care was established in Ireland in 2005 to bring practical, cost effective and above all, kind and compassionate non-medical care to elderly and disabled people who wish to remain living in their own homes.

For more information on World Elder Abuse Awareness Day on June 15^th, call Home Instead Senior Care on 051 333966 or visit www.homeinstead.ie

Home Instead “Book Reading” raises money for Waterford Hospice

Home Instead Senior Care recently hosted an evening with Imelda  Butler, author of “Be Not Afraid…..I go before You”, a compilation of short stories of love and loss written by partners, parents, children, siblings and friends who have been bereaved.

The evening, held in the Book Centre, was the brainchild of Danette Connolly, Director of Care at Home Instead Senior Care, which will donate €2 to Waterford Hospice Movement for every copy of the book purchased in May and June.

“Be Not Afraid…I go before you” was inspired by the loss of Imelda’s husband, John, and intended as a healing resource for those who have been bereaved. 

According to Danette Connolly, “The purpose of the evening was to focus on a wonderful Irish publication which brings understanding, healing, hope and insight to the reader who is bereaved as they acknowledge and reflect upon other stories from similar circumstances, and at the same time raise funds for such a worthy cause as the Waterford Hospice movement.”

  

“Everyone, at some time in their lives, will be affected by the loss of a loved one.  This book is a real consolation for any of us who have found ourselves in this situation.  Contributors to the book recount their very emotive and personal experiences and gives assurance to the reader that they are not alone.”

Danette added “We chose to support the Waterford Hospice Movement with donations from the sale of the book going to such a worthy cause.  The Hospice provides invaluable care, dignity and respect to patients with life limiting illnesses.”  

The evening was attended by a large number of guests and was addressed by Deputy Mayor of Waterford, Cllr. Hilary Quinlan.  There was also a talk by Imelda Butler and Ronan Flood, who contributed to the book.

Danette acknowledged the very generous help from local businesses in supporting the event, in particular The Book Centre, John Roberts Square and Mary Grimes Catering.

To find out more about the services provided by  Home Instead Senior Care call Danette Connolly on 051 333966 or visit www.homeinstead.ie