Pat Hume and Daphne Trimble have spent the past 10 days in the US raising funds for the Northern Ireland Memorial Fund. The two women got to know each other when their husbands were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo two years ago and are now directors of the fund, chaired by Prof George Bain of Queen's. The independent charity helps those who suffered during the 30 years of the Troubles. Pat Hume says there are 40,000 injured and 3,700 bereaved. Since nine out of 10 of those killed were men and many were fathers of young children there is a huge need; compensation lasted only a short time. The fund, which administers a number of schemes including small grants, maximum £500, pain relief and respite care, started a year ago with a £1 million government grant.
Hume and Trimble travelled under the auspices of the America Ireland Fund to San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego ending in Washington for the 17th.