Glenties Notes 3rd February 2017

Weight Watchers
As and from Monday 30th January there will be TWO classes in the Niall Mór Centre, Killybegs.  Times are: 4.45pm and 6pm.  For more information contact Brid: 086 1922110

Enrolment at St Riaghan’s NS
Parents wishing to enroll their child at St. Riaghan’s NS, Drimnacrosh, for the school year 207/2018 are invited to call to the school for an Enrolment Form.  Forms must be returned to the school no later than Friday 10th February.  ‘Enrolment Day’ will be held later in the year.  For further information or enquiries, please contact the school on 9551591 or email: striaghans@gmail.com

Enrolment at Edeninfagh NS
Enrolment Forms are now available at the school for the 2017/2018 school year.  For further details, please contact the school on 074 9551663 or email: edeninfagh@gmail.com

SN Éadan Fhionn Fhraoich
Ghlacfar le iarratasaí le haghaidh iontrala don scoilbhliain 2017/2018,  Tuileadh eolais le fáil on scoil ag 074 9551663  / edeninfagh@gmail.com

Enrolment at Scoil Mhuire
Enrolment packs for Scoil Mhuire, Glenties for school year 2017 / 2018 will be available for collection from the secretary’s office from Thursday 9th February. Forms to be completed and returned to the school by Thursday 24th February.

Glenties Community Playgroup Limited
The Playgroup would like to thank everyone who helped in any way to make their Christmas hamper draw/Christmas Calendars fundraisers so successful.  Some calendars are still available in a number of shops in the town or from the playgroup at a cost of €5, if anyone would like to purchase one.  Thank you for your support throughout the year.  If you have any unwanted toys/bikes/ride on toys/buggies, small world toys (e,g dolls house etc) in good condition, the playgroup would be very happy to have them.  Call into the or ring 9551907, between 9am and 5pm,  – Monday to Friday and we can arrange a time for drop off.  Thank you.

Parish Administration:
Parish administration will continue to operate as normal from the Parochial House, please contact Anne McNally on 074 9551117.  This includes the booking of Masses, notices for the Parish Newsletter and administration in regard to Marriages and Baptisms.

Butt Drama Circle
A reminder that The Butt Drama Circle bring their 2017 Drama Production of Brian Friel’s ‘Dancing at Lughnasa’ to the Community Centre on Friday 17th February at 8pm.  Tickets available at the door.

A Message from The Paul Dawson MS Fundraising Campaign
My name is Paul Dawson and I live in Glenties. I have Secondary Progressive MS which has changed my life entirely. This disease will effect all sufferers differently. My basic story is I was diagnosed at twenty three years of age but managed to carry on with an active lifestyle as a Firefighter. Occasionally I would have a relapse ranging from vision to weakness in strength to walking.

In 2003 I had to leave the fire service due to my condition making my work much more difficult, this was a mental low point for me as I was leaving a profession and people I loved. The MS society in Donegal provided me with support that helped me through this stage of my life. Always suspecting MS would have a bearing on my future I had attended night classes to qualify as a teacher. In 2005 I gained part time employment as a tutor with Donegal VEC where I regained my personal worth and met a group of the nicest people I have ever known. One of my teaching jobs was to work with Ardara Resource Centre where I gained even greater humility by meeting the happiest group who made me smile and laugh every day. I had modified my vehicle to give me independence to travel to and fro from work all over the county.

In 2007 I started to use a wheelchair occasionally, I can remember going shopping in Strabane and using my chair as a walking frame and challenging myself to get around the shop without sitting down! In 2008 I had to leave the VEC due to being unable to drive anymore and constant physical exhaustion, I felt that if I was a car I would wake up in the morning with no fuel in the tank! I continued with my personal battle with the enemy in my life. I managed a Skydive and 5km on a hand bike Donegal Sports Partnership provided for me.

In the last six months I have been losing more and more battles against MS to the point I felt support in fighting would strengthen my battle. I have researched several treatments of MS on the Internet and with the guidance and advice of good friends, old and new I have found a new highly regarded treatment for MS called HSCT which involves chemotherapy to destroy your immunity system then an infusion of stem cells to reboot your entire system. I have spoken to people who have attended this treatment and was quite impressed by their views. This treatment is in India and is not cheap, €32,000! Very few of us have that sort of money lying around and I know I’m one of them, therefore with the support of my wife Julie, and my family, we are planning fundraising events to help in my journey to India. HSCT is being used in Europe and the UK,  however I am unable to attend due to the further progression of my condition, they only accept those with remitting relapsing MS. I have often asked myself is there anything positive about me having MS as I have always tried to take the positive out of any situation.  In actual fact there are a few:

1. I have had the opportunity to watch my children grow up into fine decent young people, much more than if I had been in full time employment as before when I saw them every four days!
2. I have found through my MS that people in in my community and friends and family have always been there to support and encourage when needed. I am humbled and get quite teary when I actually think about the amount of people who continue to help!! There quite simply are too many to mention.
3. I am so content that MS is my cross to bear and not that of my family or loved ones. I often think it is more difficult for a person to witness a loved one battle any illness than the sufferer who has to battle on anyway.

Thanks for taking the time to read this and any support or advice you can offer would be much appreciated. This treatment will not cure my MS however it is accepted. It has stopped it in its tracks for many who have been lucky to get it.

If you would like to help Paul get to India for his treatment you can donate by:

Paul Dawson’s MS fundraising page where there is a link for on line donations, https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=734641746700461&id=734555500042419

Or alternatively you can Make a donation through any Bank of Ireland

Sort code : 90-48-94
Accout number : 27473748

Or alternatively donations can be left in Glenties post office in an envelope with Paul’s name on.

Kindest regards

Paul Dawson

LOCAL GLENTIES NOTES
Anyone wishing to submit notices for publication in the local Glenties notes, can do so by emailing glentiesdemocratnotes@gmail.com or by dropping handwritten notes into Ann Bonner at Glenbrook Embroidery on the Main Street.  All notices must be received before the deadline of Tuesday at 5pm for addition in Thursday’s publication.