A round-up of health related events taking place aroudn the country this week
Raise your fitness level in Phoenix Park
Dublin’s Phoenix Park is the venue for the first of three runs this summer organised for people of all levels of fitness. The five-mile run on Saturday, July 18th will allow those in training to build up stamina for the 10-mile run on August 15th and the Dublin half-marathon on Saturday, September 26th. More details on registration. See www.dublinmarathon.ie
Nurture kindness in the garden
Brigit’s Garden, the Celtic gardens in Roscahill, Co Galway, is holding a kindness initiative on Sunday from 2pm-6pm to celebrate its fifth birthday. Adults and children are invited to visit the gardens free and share their thoughts on kindness in words or drawings on a Kindness Wall while there. See www.brigitsgarden.ie or Kindness is Contagious Facebook page. Tel: 091 550905.
A mad day out in Laois
An event to break down the stigma attached to emotional and mental distress, through laughter and fun, will be held in Portlaoise, Co Laois, on Sunday from 1pm-5pm. Organised by mental health campaigner John McCarthy, the Mad Pride Day is a family fun day with musical acts, street performers, clowns and food stalls. It follows on from a similar event held in Fitzgerald Park, Cork city last month that more than 10,000 people attended. See www.madprideireland.ie
New DVD guide to Asperger
A new educational resource on Asperger syndrome will be launched in Trinity College Dublin tomorrow. The DVD, entitled Asperger Syndrome: A Practical Guide for Parents, Teachers, Young People and other Professionals, focuses on the specific needs of this group of young people. More details from the Asperger Syndrome Association of Ireland (ASPIRE) on tel: 01-878 0029; and www.aspire-irl.org
Cut cholesterol through diet
Medical herbalist and GP Dr Dilis Clare will give a public talk on how people can reduce their cholesterol through dietary and lifestyle changes on Thursday at 7pm in the Burlington Hotel, Upper Leeson St, Dublin.
Dr Clare, the chairwoman of the Irish Institute of Medical Herbalists, will also speak about how herbs can be used to treat cholesterol problems. Admission €20. Advanced booking on tel: 091 583260.