The Space Between Us

Congratulations to John MacKenna on the impending launch of his new novel "The Space Between Us" by novelist and journalist Suzanne Power on Friday June 26th 2009 at

8 pm in the Heritage Centre, Town Hall, Athy.

Two Healthy Kidneys for Sale !

Yes you read it right. This is the headline of an advertisement which Rebuild for Bosnia, the Monasterevin based charity that has housed thousands of victims of

the Balkan war, discovered in a Sarajevo Newspaper last year.

On immediate investigation the charity discovered the source of the advertisement having recruited a local representative to responded to it.

“It transpired that the kidneys on sale belonged to two women who’s husbands were detained in the brutal prisoner of war camp Manjaca during the 1992-95 conflict in Central Bosnia” said Patricia Keane Chairperson of Rebuild for Bosnia. Patricia goes on to say that “The men were left with lifelong physical disabilities after torturous beatings and weeks of starvation. Despite their army service they have no income and have had to move thirteen times in six years from one shack to another. The women heard that internationals were paying good money for kidneys and they saw this

as their way of putting a roof over their heads, food on the table and purchase the necessary medication for their mentally traumatised husbands.”

The charity is constantly working with people like this, sad remnants of a war that

most of the world has forgotten. “It is horrendous that people are now resorting to selling their organs” said Patricia.

Tom Walsh from Athy and with responsibility for the fund raising and marketing for the charity explains that the charity has managed to convince the women to put a stay on their kidneys for sale. The women have withdrawn their advertisement on the basis that the charity will do absolutely everything in their power to raise €42,000.00 to build them a home.

For this purpose Rebuild for Bosnia has organised a very historic and memorable

walk which will take place along Tochar Phadraig in Co. Mayo, the 22 mile pilgrim path which thousands of early Irish Christians walked to be baptised by St. Patrick 1,568 years ago. The walk takes place on Saturday and Sunday, July 18^th and 19^th

with an over night stay in Westport. It is hoped that each walker will raise one thousand euro and Rebuild for Bosnia have come up with a novel way of helping

them raise the money in these stringent economic times. The walk includes accommodation, meals, packed lunches, transport and entertainment.

“Time is running out now and we urgently need to build a house for this poor unwanted family who have to resort to selling parts of their body to survive, we think it’s bad here in Ireland but remember it is horrendous still in Bosnia,” said Ms. Keane who believes that people will reach into their pockets to help such a worthy cause and have a memorable and rewarding weekend in the process and stop the Papic Kidney

for Sale Campaign.

If you would like to participate or donate to the event, please contact Patricia or Tom at 045 532410 or 087 9974120. Or write to: Rebuild for Bosnia, Beechfield Office, Athy Rd, Monasterevin, Co. Kildare.

Have a little Concern

. 1st – 2nd

August 2009

An attempt to reach the summit of the 14 highest mountains in Ireland in just 2 days

Please contact Tom O’Connell for more details

087 – 628 6211

www.concernchallenge.org

oconnelltj@eircom.net

Are you interested in raising some money for Concern by climbing 14 peaks this August Holiday week end?

We are looking for about 20 fit and eager people to accept this challenge.

Last year the group raised a fantastic €8640 which went towards helping children in Africa to gain access to an education. In Africa, a child is 40% more likely to live beyond their fifth birthday if their mother has a primary school education. It’s that basic. Education is a human right. It’s also a key factor in reducing poverty and child labour.

If you’re interested in supporting this worthy cause please contact Tom O Connell at 087-628 6211 or visit www.concernchallenge.org

The 14 Munros are:

• Lugnaquilla (925m)
• Galtee Mór (919m)
• Brandon (952m)
• Beenkeragh (1010m)
• Carrauntoohil Tooth (959m)
• Carrauntoohil (1039m)
• Caher (1001m)
• Caher West Top (975m)
• Cnoc an Chuillín (958m)
• Unnamed Top (926m)
• Maolán Buí (973m)
• Cnoc na Péiste (988m)
• The Big Gun (939m)
• Cruach Mór (932m)

Itinerary

Day 1

There will be an early start at 0530hrs to climb Lugnaquilla the first munro which should take approximately 2hrs and 40mins to complete. This will be followed by Galtee Mor and Brandon, each taking around 2hrs 30mins. It is estimated that the day will finish around 1930hrs with enough time to get and early night ready for the next day.

Day 2

This will be a long but rewarding day. Another early start at 0530hrs to take on the remaining 11 munro's and it is estimated that this should take around 12-14 hrs, depending on the speed of the group. There will be a gala meal to congratulate everyone on this massive achievement.

FAQ

Daylight hours for early May are; sunrise 5:40, sunset 21:205, approx. That is more than 15 hours of daylight, and we will need every minute of it! Each day we will expect to be on the trail by sunrise at the latest.

Private buses will be used to ferry the challengers and support staff. These buses will collect everyone from a central pick-up location(s), very early on the morning of Saturday 1st August and will transfer challengers to and from the base of each Munro. This will be our mode of transport until we are dropped back to our pick-up location, on Monday afternoon.

Accommodation will be provided. This is by way of a Hotel for the Saturday and Sunday nights. A take away breakfast will be provided on the Sunday morning, as we will be leaving too early to get breakfast in the hotel. An evening meal is provided each evening. Monday morning breakfast will be as usual, with check-out and return home thereafter.

There will be 3-4 guides, each with radio contact to each other and to our back-up team at the team buses, and we will be dispersed throughout the team. The team will be broken into sub-groups of 3-4 individuals, each sub-group will need to be self-reliant and will require its own maps, compass and basic safety kit.

Costs per person, this will be covered by means of a non-refundable deposit of €250, plus, sponsorship of €1000 for Concern. In this way you can tell all your donors that all sponsorship is going to Concern. All sponsorship monies will be paid via this website or directly to Concern.

Winning Kids

WINNING KIDS SUMMER CAMP

MONDAY JULY 13TH –FRIDAY JULY 24TH

@ THE HUNTING GROUND, DUBLIN ROAD, ATHY.

10AM-1PM DAILY

Activities include:

Drumming Sessions

Farm Visit

Arts & Crafts

Photography

Cookery Delights

Drama

Home made Piñatas & money boxes. (Please bring small empty boxes for this project)

Exhibition of products from the Summer Camp on Friday 24th July 1pm-2pm

This event is open to all children from 3years to 11years.

Contribution per child per week is Euros 50.00 towards venue, lunch,

excursion/farm visit, materials & Drumming sessions. INTERESTED? THEN CALL

(085-730-2474) & REGISTER WITH EDITH BEFORE 20TH OF JUNE,2009.

EXHIBITION OF PRODUCTS FROM WINNING KIDS SUMMER CAMP ~ FRIDAY

24th JULY 2008. 1PM-2PM@ THE HUNTING GROUND, ATHY

* Camp co-ordinator, welcome’s everyone.

* Linda Mulhall, Chairperson WIN, Athy Opens exhibition

* Songs and dance by Summer Camp participants.

* Presentation of tokens to volunteers and participatory prizes to all

Children

• Closing Remarks

ORGANIZED BY:

WI N

WOMEN’S INTEGRATED NETWORK (WIN), ATHY

EMPOWERING WOMEN FOR POSITIVE INTEGRATION THROUGH

INFORMATION, SKILLS ACQUISATION AND POTENTIAL DEVELOPMENT

IMPORTANT NOTE:

WINNING KIDS IS THE CHILDREN’S ARM OF WIN, ATHY. MEMBERSHIP IS OPEN TO

ALL CHILDREN LIVING IN AND AROUND ATHY. PRACTISE DAYS, 1ST & 3RD TUESDAYS

OF EVERY MONTH, 5PM-6PM @ CONEY GREEN, CONEYBORO, ATHY, CALL 085-142-6012

FOR DETAILS. www.womensintegratednetwork-win-athy.org