http://www.softireland.com/files/soft-newsletter-40.pdf

I know that Christmas can be a very happy and special time for small children with the excitement of Santa and all the gifts to come, but for some of us who have lost children it can also be very sad. I hope you will all light your SOFT candle this year in memory of our children and remember your friends in SOFT that are feeling much the same way as you are. That’s why SOFT is such a wonderful group.

I am looking forward to the challenges that lie ahead for myself and the new committee and look forward to meeting each and every one of you in 2012.

Fiona Hennessy.
Chairperson.

This year we have 10 new designs and they are being sold in packs of 10, 1 of each design for €7.50 or two packs for €12.00. P & P is €1 extra.

As you can see below the new cards range from the more traditional to fun designs. On the back of each card is a small piece explaining the work of SOFT Ireland and our contact details. The idea of the ‘blank’ cards is for you to make more personal cards to send out…  Get the children to colour them in to make each one unique, put a family picture there, if you’ve had a new baby why not put their picture there to celebrate baby’s first Christmas.. the possibilities are endless..

Due to the fact the cards have already been on sale at the AGM quantities are limited so place your order soon! You can order by e-mailing soft.merchandise@yahoo.ie  or contacting Alma Stanley on 086 2606791.

The Mycharity.ie website allows people to make a donation(either a once off or regular monthly payments), create a fundraising page and sponsor fundraisers. The website is easy to use and fundraisers can e-mail friends, family, co-workers etc with their own personal message. Donors log on to a page dedicated to the charities fundraising and sponsor friends by credit or debit card.

Olivia and Peter Phillips have generously donated the full annual subscription fee for SOFT Ireland to register with Mycharity.ie in memory of their son Peadar. We really appreciate their contribution and hope that members will consider using the service during the year.

The get to the SOFT Ireland page log on to www.mycharity.ie and on the home page you will see a section marked ‘quick links’ – the first one of which is ‘List of Charities’ . Click on this and it will bring up a full list of charities registered on the site in alphabetical order. Then just click on the SOFT Ireland line and it will bring you to our pages.

Here’s a list of the lucky winners…

1st Prize – Weekend for two in Ashford Castle incl B & B and one evening dinner.
                     Donncha MacPhaidin, 31 Corragh Woods, Frankfields,Cork.
2nd Prize – €250 – sponsored by Alex and Paula Doyle.
                       Mae Kelly & Anne O’Neill,c/o Geraldine Brophy, Bawnree, Old Leighlin , Co. Carlow.
3rd Prize – Lawnmower – Sponsored by Ace Hire, Drogheda.
                       Helen Doherty, Glasnevin, Dublin.
4th Prize – Weekend for two in Newpark Hotel, Kilkenny incl B & B.
                      Leo & Liz Hughes, Ballinabranna, Co. Carlow.
5th Prize -  €250 voucher for Mac’s Mensware, Carlow.
                       Anna Carton, 12 Hillcrest View, Lucan, Co Dublin.
6th Prize -  Weekend for two in Bloomfield House Hotel, Mullingar.
                       Marissa Moore, c/o Antoinette Conroy.
7th Prize – Hamper worth €200 – Sponsored by Robert Roberts.
                      Chloe Hannigan, Drumsilla, Tullyvin, Cootehill, Co. Cavan.
8th Prize – Two night stay in Holiday Cottage at Red Barn, Youghal (value €200).
                      Ken Kennedy, c/o Michael Griffin.
9th Prize – Case of wine (value €130) – Sponsored by Robert Roberts.
                      Noel Fahy, Tumneenane, Clonbur, Co. Galway.
10th Prize -  All -4-One Voucher – value €100.
                      Tom Conors, Seskinryan, Bagenalstown, Co. Carlow.

Well done to all the winners. We will be in touch with you shortly.
Also a huge thank you to the prize sponsors and to everyone who purchased tickets or helped in any way to make the raffle the huge success it was.

Tribute To Elaine Fagan-1

The get-together is open to members, recently bereaved families and anyone who may have an interest in Soft Ireland and it’s work.

More details will be published closer to the date.

This meeting is open to existing Soft Ireland members, to new families and to anyone who may have an interest in finding out more about the work of Soft Ireland. Please feel free to drop in, pick up a copy of our booklet ‘Why Our Baby’, have a chat and a cuppa!

If you have anything you would like included please e-mail details to soft.newsletter@yahoo.ie or by post to Terry Matthews, Steeple View, Strabannon, Castlebellingham, Co. Louth.

Thanks to Newsletter Co-Ordinator Terry Matthews and Editor John Lambert for the wonderful work that went into the newsletter. However the newsletter can only be as good as you the members make it. If you have anything you would like to include in the next edition – stories, poems, reports and pictures of fundraising events, family announcements -please forward to John by e-mail at chequerboard@gmail.com or to Terry at soft.newsletter@yahoo.ie or by post to Terry Matthews,Steepleview, Stabannon, Castlebellingham, Co. Louth.