The Association for the Welfare of Children in Hospital is a voluntary organisation formed in 1970 to help sick children and their parents by running hospital playgroups. While volunteers are always welcome, the association is currently making a special appeal for Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children, Crumlin. Volunteers should be mature, cheerful and reliable people who love children and who are free to commit themselves to one morning, afternoon or evening each week.
To find out more about the association's work and the next volunteer training course, which starts on September 13th, telephone 01 2889278/6684561 or write to 21 Ardagh Drive, Blackrock, Co Dublin.
On Tuesday, September 9th a fund-raising fashion show for the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association will be held in Fitzpatrick's Conference and Banqueting Centre, Bunratty. The association functions mainly as a support group and helps with home visits, financial assistance for home nursing and supply of specialised equipment while also supporting research into the causes and treatment of the disease. The evening starts with a cocktail reception at 8 p.m., music is courtesy of the Irish World Music Centre and fashions are by Ela Maria. Tickets at £20 can be purchased through Dromoland Event Management, tel: 061 368809. The association can be contacted on freephone 1800 403403.
Rathmines Library Staff host a pub quiz in aid of the Mater Hospital on Thursday in the Phibsboro House, Phibsboro Road at 9 p.m. The fee is £12 per four-person team. Further information from Carol or Lucy, at 01 4973539.
Families from the local community, GPs and healthcare workers are being invited in to St James's Hospital, Dublin this week to celebrate the hospital's 25th anniversary. The inter-related events are being organised to highlight the hospital's achievements and developments over the past 25 years and to further strengthen links with the local community. The celebrations, which will be launched by the President, Mrs Robinson tomorrow, include community activities, tours of the and community health lectures aimed at the public. There will also be a series of clinical lectures. To coincide with the anniversary, the St James's Foundation will be launched. The foundation is being established to promote the provision of amenities for patients within the hospital and the development of medical education, as well as to support medical research. The specific objectives of the foundation's first campaign are to raise funds for the hospital's Institute of Molecular Medicine and for its new Centre for Rehabilitation and Independent Living. For further details contact Rebecca Ruttledge, tel: 01 4532291.
The Dublin AIDS Alliance (DAA) with the assistance of the Comedy Cellar launch a new annual fund-raising comedy benefit, Stand Up for DAA on Wednesday at the Temple Theatre, Temple Street at 8.30 p.m. Performers include Craig Charles, Kevin McAleer, Barry Murphy and Barry Glendenning. Ticket and credit card sales from HMV, tel: 01 8733799.