Talking Cancer edited by Joe Briscoe and Roberta Collins (Quill Print, £6.95) is a new book which will be of special interest to anyone affected by cancer either directly or within their circle of family and friends. The book has been endorsed by, among others, Dr Fin Breatnach and Dr Des Carney and was published with the help of the VHI and Irish Life.
It's filled with stories written by adults and children who have been diagnosed with cancer and while their individual experiences are different many common threads unite them; the indescribable shock of the diagnosis, the overwhelming fear, the positive effect of support and the message of hope.
The book encourages talking about the disease while acknowledging the difficulties experienced by relatives and friends in even using the word "cancer".
Today is World Osteoporosis Day and a special public lecture to mark the occasion is being held in the Edmund Burke Theatre, Trinity College, Dublin at 6 p.m. Leading health professionals, including Prof Moira O'Brien, will advise about osteoporosis which is on the increase. A diet rich in calcium and vitamin D coupled with regular weight bearing exercise, such as brisk walking, is now being advised because half of all women over 70 are affected by this debilitating bone disease. A new charity to help raise awareness will be launched at the lecture and information can be obtained by sending a large stamped addressed envelope to the Irish Osteoporosis Society, Emoclew, Batterstown, Dunboyne, Co Meath. Tel (01) 8258159.
"Bosnia War Babies: A Convoy of Hope" a fund raising drive for an aid convoy to Banja Juka has been launched by the Irish Red Cross and Bus Eireann. Last December these two groups were responsible for sending a four vehicle convoy to Bosnia which brought 66 tonnes of aid to a soup kitchen programme for 25,000 people. The second aid convoy will involve 13 vehicles from all over the country and they plan to bring 300 tonnes of food, clothes, nappies, school stationery, kindergarden equipment and toys to children.
The beneficiaries will be 8 000 babies, an orphanage for 200 children, a school for 150 deaf and dumb children and two kindergartens with a total of 400 students. Each year 10,000 children are born in the Banja Luka area of Bosnia and most of them are underweight. They suffer mineral and vitamin deficiences and consequently there has been a resurgence of diseases associated with poor living conditions.
Those who wish to make a contribution to this "Convoy of Hope" can do so by sending a donation to the Irish Red Cross Society, 16 Merrion Square, Dublin 2, or directly to the Former Yugoslavia Appeal Account at any branch of either the Bank of Ireland or AIB.
Sonairte, the National Ecology Centre, will hold a one day cookery course next Saturday at its centre in Laytown, Co Meath. The theme will be an introduction to summer vegetarian cooking and bread making using organic ingredients.
The cost for the day is £35 which includes tuition and lunch made from produce grown in the centre's 18th century organic garden. Details from (041) 27572/27854.
All are welcome and entrance is free to the Irish Stammers Association Open Day in Jury's Hotel, Ballsbridge, Dublin, next Saturday from 2 to 5 p.m. The meeting will be addressed by Minister Prionsias De Rossa and other speakers include Dr Mark Onslow from the University of Sydney and Margaret Leahy, director of the School of Clinical speech and Language Studies, TCD.
Parents of mentally handicapped children and adults are invited by the Eastern Health Board to a one day conference focusing on early intervention and residential care. The benefits of early intervention will be demonstrated by showing films of families using the Marte Meo video training programmes and there will also be an evaluation of the pilot project run in conjunction with KARE of the Key Link Project used with children with significant handicaps.
The current projects in residential care for adult mentally handicapped with self care skills will also be explored and there will be an opportunity to visit a residential unit for interested parents. The conference takes place tomorrow in Dr Steeven's Hospital, Dublin 8, and there is no cost involved. Bookings can be made by telephoning Eimear Black on (01) 6790700 ext 23767.