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This Years Events
We have a fabulous fashion show this Thursday 11th October in Omagh, at the Mellon Country Hotel. Call Margaret McCrossan on 07714014757 for times and prices. Tickets are available form Margaret as well.
Last Years Activities
Hope 4 Health Roadshow - Enniskillen Library - Wednesday 21st September 7pm -9.30 pm
The Aware Defeat Depression Hope 4 Health road show is rolling into Enniskillen Library on Wednesday 21st September from 7pm to 9.30pm to offer a free, fun filled evening of feel good activities. The event is suitable for all ages and will provide advice and information on a range of topics including stress busting, food and mood and general wellbeing. Several demonstrations and activities will also be available including Zumba and yoga.
The event which is funded by the Big Lottery is being organised by Aware Defeat Depression in association with Libraries NI’s Health in Mind Project. It is free and open to the general public. Information about Aware will be available, along with information about the Aisling Centre and their services which include counselling, aromatherapy and reflexology. The Western Trust Community Drug and Addiction Team will also be on hand, as well as Action Mental Health New Horizons.
Speaking about the event Aware’s Head of Services says "As an organisation we are very much aware that we all can play a major part in looking after our own mental health. Things such as physical exercise, eating well, having a good work-life balance can all be beneficial. Often however when we are feeling stressed, under pressure or depressed we stop doing the very things that can make us all feel better. Indeed as well as stopping doing the "good” things we can start doing things which can actually make things worse in the long term for example comfort eating or drinking.”
Aware Defeat Depression has a support group in Enniskillen which meets every first and third Tuesday of the month in the Aisling Centre, Darling Street at 7.30pm. For more information on support groups visit www.aware-ni.org or call the helpline on 08451 20 29 61. Alternatively, email Help@aware-ni.org.
You can contact Enniskillen Library (Halls Lane, BT74 7DR), on telephone number: 028 6632 2886 or email: enniskillen.library@librariesni.org.uk. For more information about the Health In Mind project go to www.librariesni.org.uk
A poster for the event is available to download here.
Out And About's Pride Walk - 24th July
If you fancy getting out and about to raise some money for Aware, why not join Out and About this Sunday on a walk around the beautiful Shaw's Bridge area of Belfast. The walk is being organised by Colin Flinn from O&A as part of the groups annual Belfast Pride activities.
OUT & ABOUT LAGAN VALLEY PRIDE WALK MEET MYNT CARPARK / MALONE HOUSE
(a sponsored walk in aid of Aware Defeat Depression- please bring along a donation to support this charity)
Meet at Mynt car park at 11:45am or join us at Malone House for 12:15pm
Return approximately 4pm
Distance - approximately 3/4 miles
Get your shoes on, and enjoy a relaxing walk along the Lagan Valley and its surrounding countryside.
This year Out & About are supporting Aware Defeat Depression on this sponsored walk. Depending on the day, we will walk along the river and over the fields to the Giant’s Ring for a picnic, visiting the secret garden above the river at Minnowburn prior to returning to the car park. This walk is all on paths.
Please wear sturdy shoes or boots, and, depending on the forecast, bring along a waterproof jacket, plus a simple packed lunch and some water.
Boxing Clever
It's fight night for Nico Fell who has been in training for eight weeks as part of a White Collar Boxing event called 'The Fight'.
Organiser of ‘The Fight’, Dean Langasco, said: "Stepping inside a boxing ring isn't all about aggression and fitness. It's about courage and discipline - discipline to stick to the training and work hard before the fight, and the courage to step inside the ring and meet your opponent face to face for the first time. People who box or who have boxed command respect. Respect for themselves but also respect from their peers who will never look at them in the same way again.”
Nico added: "I’ve enjoyed every minute of training and I’m excited and nervous about getting into the ring on Thursday. So far in the last 7 weeks I have broken part of my nose, bitten off a chunk of my tongue and sweated more than I have ever thought possible in order to prepare for this event. We've had blood, we've had sweat, here's hoping there won't be tears on Thursday night. Knowing that I am raising this money has got me through the difficult times. I'd love to get the total up to £1500 by the time I get into the ring.”
Alison Smyth, fundraising manager for Aware Defeat Depression added: "The discipline and courage that Nico is demonstrating are the same characteristics that someone who experiences depression has to learn. By fundraising for Aware, people like Nico are allowing us to continue to offer our services across Northern Ireland. Our fundraisers choose to do all sorts of activities to raise money for us – this is something no one has ever chosen to do before and we’d like to thank Nico for his amazing fundraising achievement and wish him all the best for fight night!”
To sponsor Nico, visit his justgiving page, www.justgiving.com/nicoboxing. For more information on support groups in your area, visit www.aware-ni.org or call the helpline on 08451 20 29 61. ‘The Fight’ and Nico Fell were featured on UTV’s ‘Seven Thirty Show’ on Thursday 16th June and can be viewed again on www.u.tv.
Bra-vo for Breast foot Forward! Sunday 12th June 2011 - We saw a group of men and women proudly walk, run and strut down the Lisburn road on Sunday 12th June to raise money for Aware.
Organised by Orchid Lingerie, and with Lynda Bryans, Mark Lima and Ant and Dick for company almost 30 people put their bras on show to convey the message that like a nice bra, depression isn't something that should be hidden away! Pictures can be viewed on our facebook page, visit www.facebook.com/awaredefeatdepression for a peek at our lovely lingerie!
Ian Price scores Silver Gilt medal at the Garden Show Ireland!
The public were amazed and delighted by the garden entitled ‘One 4 the Journey’ which took the prestigious Silver Gilt medal in the large Garden category at this year’s Hillsborough Garden Ireland Show. Designed by Ian Price Landscape and Garden Design, in association with mental health charity Aware Defeat Depression, the garden drew on Ian’s own experience of depression and aimed to highlight the common but devastating nature of the illness and our need to understand its signs and symptoms. Through a series of carefully crafted and planted stages in the garden, the public were taken on a journey from the depths of despair up to a light and airy raised platform and water feature. According to the judges, it was this physical representation of a state of mind that clinched the medal for Ian, along with his dramatic landscaping and beautiful choice of plants.
Head of PR for the Charity, Alison Smyth said "This idea of Ian’s was first presented to Aware Defeat Depression about a year ago and to see it here for real and winning Silver Gilt status is fantastic. The garden is the highlight of our annual Depression Aware week this year and everyone visiting it agrees that Ian has created something really special. A lot of hard work has been put into this garden and I would like to thank all of those who have helped to make it a dream come true, including our wonderful sponsors, Flanneries Nurseries in Kildare, Evergreen Lawns, Eglantine Timber, Rentamerc, Ridgeway Plant Hire, Hillmount Nurseries, Patton Hire and Baloo Hire amongst many others.” She added "Everyone who has visited the garden has expressed their admiration for it and have been inspired by its message of hope. As a charity we try to reach out to people about the need to protect their mental health and this garden has touched the hearts of hundreds of people far more eloquently than even the best leaflets and posters can.”
Ian Price said "it was touch and go we could get all the materials we needed from sponsors and it was only last week that we knew for certain we had a digger and dumper truck to start work on site, so the last few weeks have a bit of a cliff hanger! I am grateful to all the volunteers and all the sponsors who helped me realise my vision of a garden that would tell a story of depression and recovery” He added "the number of people that have shared their personal story of depression while walking through this garden has been very moving. I only hope it has raised enough awareness of the need we all have to look after our mental health as that is the main purpose for building my "one 4 the Journey” garden.”
Have you ever wondered what the link between Aware Defeat Depression and Hillsborough Garden show is?
Actually, there is more than just one link. Gardening therapy is often used to help people recover from mental health problems and Ian Price is one of those people. Having experienced depression for 10 years, Ian who is originally from Parkgate, Co Antrim, is a landscape gardener who has designed a mental health garden for the Hillsborough show to raise awareness of local mental health charity, Aware Defeat Depression and the work they do.
Ian’s garden, titled ‘One for the Journey’ gives an insight into the journey through depression to recovery. Ian’s clever use of planting, mirrors and dark pools of water demonstrate the depths of despair, the distortion of reality and the relief when you break through.
For a more detailed explanation of the garden, Ian’s background and the work that Aware Defeat Depression do, simply download the PDF file below.
One of Ian’s major sponsors is Eglantine Timber, but he still requires assistance with other elements of the garden, especially planting. Approximately 30,000 people will visit the show over the course of the weekend, if you can help, or know someone who may be able to please get in touch. The show is running from 20th to 22nd May and Ian’s garden will be available for viewings throughout this time. After Hillsborough, Ian plans to take the show garden to the Bloom Garden Festival, Dublin in 2012.
Hillsborough Garden Show is also coinciding with Depression Aware Week 2011, a nationwide week of events running from 20th to 26th May, to raise awareness of depression which focuses on rural communities this year.
For more information on Ian or his garden, contact Ian on ianeprice@aol.com or Alison Smyth on 02871 260602 or email Alison@aware-ni.org. For more information on Depression Aware Week, contact James Knox on 02890 321734 or email James@aware-ni.org.
More information is available on the Hillsborough Garden Show’s website – www.gardenshowireland.com.
Sharon Sinclair, our previous Chief Executive, recently undertook her own fundraising challenge. She decided to walk 50 miles in celebration of her 50th birthday along the North Coast from Carrick-a-rede to Castlerock. She wanted to raise £1000 for Aware, so if you can spare a few quid, visit her justgiving page. We condensed her escapades along the Coastal Caper into the PDF file at the bottom of the page!
Medi Cosmetics Spring Beauty Event
One for the Journey information pack
Sharon's Nifty Fifty Coastal Caper diary
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