SOFT Ireland

A vintage tractor run will be held on 8th August in Derrinturn, Carbury, Co. Kildare in aid of SOFT Ireland and breast cancer research.

It will kick off at 11.30 in Derrinturn and make it’s way to Ballyboggan and then back to Derrinturn. There will be many vintage cars, motor bikes and tractors taking part and promises to be an enjoyable day for the whole family.

The next committee will be held on Saturday 4th September 2010 in the Bloomfield Hotel Mullingar at 11:30.

The 2010 Flora Womens’ Mini Marathon will take place on Monday 7th June.

Just a reminder that SOFT t-shirts and sponsorship cards are available from our fund-raising committee. Please click on the fundraising tab at the top of the page to get contact details of each member.

Perhaps anyone doing the mini-marathon of behalf of SOFT would like to run with other SOFT supporters?? Why not all meet up in front of the Shelbourne Hotel on St. Stephen’s Green and create a very eye-catching sea of red SOFT t-shirts…you just might get your picture in the papers or on TV and help raise the profile of SOFT!!

A fancy dress kiddies disco for ages 7 and under will be held in The Loch Garman Arms, Main Street, Gorey, Co. Wexford on Saturday 29th May from 2pm to 4pm.

Entry is €5 per child and all children must be accompanied by an adult.

All proceeds go to SOFT Ireland.

For further information please contact Gina Kavanagh 087 7809579

Our 2010 AGM will take place on the weekend of 29th,30th and 31st October in the Bloomfield Hotel, Mullingar. Further details will be posted closer to the time but for now pencil those dates in your dairies!

A fundraising coffee morning will be held in the Glenside Hotel, Drogheda on Thursday 15th April 2010 from 10:00 am to 12:30pm.

This coffee morning is being held in aid of the Jack and Jill Foundation and SOFT Ireland in memory of three very special babies – Lily May Stanley, Darren Mellows-Guildea and Ellen Butler.

So come and support these two very worthy causes and enjoy a cuppa and a scone into the bargain!

Admission €4 and tickets are available from Joanne Mellows 087-9662118 and Alma Stanley 086-2606791.

There will be a monster raffle on the morning and even if you are unable to attend, Joanne and Alma will be only too pleased to organise raffle tickets for you!!

This year the Spring Break will take place on the weekend of 26th to 28th March and the venue is the Abbeyfield Hotel and Leisure Centre in Ballaghaderreen, Co. Roscommon.

The Spring Break is a very informal and relaxed weekend. There is plenty of time to meet other families, to share experiences, talk about your special child and make new friends. This year there will be no organised activities on the Saturday afternoon allowing plenty of time to relax and enjoy the surroundings of the hotel.

The high point of the weekend is our Saturday night dinner – which is followed by a raffle and live music entertainment – don’t forget to bring a spot prize for the raffle!! This is always a lively event especially for the children. As some of our newer families may not be ready for this there is also a quieter area provided where you can sit, relax and chat.

The cost for 2 nights B&B and evening meal on the Saturday is €99 per adult sharing. Children under 4 and special needs children are free.  Children from 4 to 16 are €40 each for 2 night B&B and the evening meal on Saturday. SOFT Ireland is delighted to offer up to €200 to families towards the cost of accomodation.

The hotel has a limited number of family rooms and unfortunately has no inter-connecting rooms. However they are happy to offer adjoining rooms at no extra cost. Bookings should be made by Friday 12th March directly with the hotel (094 9862100) quoting ‘SOFT Ireland Spring Break. For further information on the hotel and its’ facilities please check www.abbeyfieldhotel.ie . For any other queries please contact Ian O’Brien 087 6211264 or Danny Rispin 086 2519850.

We look forward to seeing you there.

The third annual Keeper climb will take place on Saturday 6th March 2010.

We will meet at Newport Graveyard at 9am and head off for the starting point for the climb.

Should you require accommodation for this event the Castletroy Park Hotel had offered a rate of €60 B & B per person sharing.

Anyone interested in taking part please contact Nicola Foley on 087 9086705 and she will be please to send you sponsorship cards and full directions to the location..

Alternatively if you can’t make the climb itself and wish to make a donation you can contact Nicola and she will advise you how to do so.

Looking forward to seeing you all there for what promises to be a great day in aid of a great cause!!

This years SOFT Ireland AGM will take place on the weekend of the 6th to the 8th November and the venue is the Bloomfield House Hotel in Mullingar, Co. Westmeath.
The rates are as follows….
€119 per person sharing(adult rate) for 2 nights B&B and 1 dinner
Rate for extra night(Thurs or Sunday) €50 per person sharing for B&B.
€20 per child (4 – 16 yrs) per night B&B sharing with adults – Childrens dinner €15.
Interconnecting rooms: Charge – €80 per night for 2 children, €100 per night for 3 children.
Special Children and children under 3 are free(sharing with adults).

Bookings should be made directly with the hotel – quoting SOFT Ireland AGM – at 044 9340894. The web site address is www.bloomfieldhouse.com. To guarantee rooms the management of the hotel has requested that bookings are made before the 16th October.

This year SOFT Ireland is delighted to offer up to €250 to families to assist with the cost of dinner and accomodation.

The AGM weekend is very popular with our families and over the years it has become the highlight of the SOFT Ireland year. Much of the weekend concentrates on the ‘business’ side of the charity but it also gives families an opportunity to learn a bit more about SOFT and the work we do. There is also plenty of time to meet other families, to share experiences and to make new friends.

A creche facility will be available for the babies and toddlers while the AGM is being held on the Saturday morning. We have organised that the younger children be taken by bus on the Saturday morning to a local play centre for some fun and games. The older children will get the opportunity to travel to Lilliput Adventure Centre for a morning of outdoor activities. We would advise parents to visit their web site on www.lilliputadventure.com for information on activities. A change of clothes will definately be required!!

The Grand Finale is our Saturday night dinner which is followed by a fun raffle and live musical entertainment for all the family. We would appreciate if every family could bring a prize for the raffle. This is always a very lively event and we understand that some of our newer families may not be ready for this – there will also be a quieter area available if you would like to ‘get away from it all’ to have a chat.

Photographs may be taken over the course of the weekend and published in the SOFT newsletter. The tribute Book will also be displayed in the Quiet Room for the duration of the weekend. Parents are reminded that children must be supervised at all times over the course of the weekend. Name badges will be provided – please wear them as it makes it so much easier for everybody to become acquainted.

Looking forward to seeing you all there!!

SOFT Ireland will be holding a fund raising night at Mulingar Greyhound stadium on Saturday 3rd October 2009.
Gates open at 7pm and the first race is at 8pm sharp. There will be musical entertainment after the last race.
Tickets cost €20 (children free) and include entrance to stadium, race program and entry to a draw for €500.

There will also be an auction for a greyhound pup and a raffle on the night.

Tickets are available from Michael and Michelle Griffin – telephone 044 9335674.

We need to sell 360 tickets for the night to be a success so encourage your friends, family and work colleagues to come along and enjoy a great night out.

We hope to sell ads for the race program which are priced at €35 for a quarter page, €75 for a half page and €100 for a full page. Again if you can help with this please contact Michael or Michelle.

For anyone wishing to stay the night we have contacted a number of local hotels and received the folowing rates….

Bloomfield House Hotel, Belvedere, Mullingar  Tel 044 9340894
B&B €65 per person sharing
B&B plus dinner €89 per person sharing

Greville Arms Hotel, Pearse Street, Mullingar Tel 044 9348563
B&B €40 per person sharing

Newbury Hotel, Dominic Street, Mullingar Tel 0449342888
€99 per double room including breakfast