Healing memories to help with fundraising

The fundraising committee of Gort Cancer Support has come up with a unique idea to raise money and to help the healing process for those who have lost loved ones.
The well-known South Galway organisation is compiling a once-off book to remember people who have died, regardless of how or where.
The group are looking for photos, stories, poems about them or just a simple few words in their memory. It is proposed to have a special mass to launch the book that will be placed on the altar for the month of November each year and again on Christmas day.
“We know what it is to lose someone you love. We feel that we don’t get enough opportunities to remember them once they are gone. I see this as a healing thing.
“It is a fundraiser, yes, but it is more important for us that people get healing from what they put in rather than necessarily just Gort Cancer Support making money from it. The healing is more important really,” said Della Lally, one of the group’s fundraisers.
Gort Cancer Support was established on June 21, 2007 to provide support and practical assistance to anyone affected by cancer. The Cancer Support Centre is a voluntary, non-profit charitable organisation that offers support, information and practical assistance to anyone affected by cancer. It is currently being run by a number of trained volunteers, including those who offer art therapy, a listening service and complementary therapies.
“We are not targeting any group in particular with this project. There are so many losses of young people now but grief is grief no matter who you lose. You go through the anger, the grief, the bitterness, the hopelessness. You cannot design grief in different ways. It is all grief. We are just targeting anyone who has lost someone that they would like to remember.
“We are getting very positive feedback on this. My sister, who lives in Donegal has said she is already looking at the idea for up there. If even one person gets healing from this, it will have been worth it,” she adds.
Anyone who would like to include a loved one can contact committee members Della 087 9218662, Mary 086 8599854, Brid 086 8582928, Regina 086 8419290, Geraldine 087 2353258 or Carmel 087 2285774 or email gcssupport@eircom.net.
The closing date for receipt of memories is September 30.