1) An annual fundraiser, organised by racehorse trainer Jim Bolger and jockey Davy Russell, has raised €700,000 to fund the Irish Cancer Society's cancer research projects since 2012. And the seventh edition of the event – Hurling for Cancer Research 2018 – which sees Irish sports stars, past and present, line out for a hurling exhibition match takes place on Tuesday evening, August 14th, at St Conleth's Park, Newbridge, Co Kildare. This year's squads include Tommy Walsh, Ollie Canning, Charlie Carter, Niall Quinn, Stephen Hunt, Anna Geary, John Mullane, Joe Brolly and Peter Canavan. The match officials include Tadgh Furlong, Miriam O'Callaghan and Katie Walsh. Liam Griffin and Brian Cody will be the two managers for the game, while Micheál Ó Muircheartaigh and Seán Bán Breathnach will provide the commentary.
Pre-match entertainment begins at 5.30pm, with the match throwing in at 6pm. Tickets costing €10 for adults and €15 for families are on sale at cancer.ie/catalog/tickets, 1850 60 60 60, and at the gate on the evening.
2) The value of interactive music-making for people in hospital, nursing homes and day centres will be explored in a workshop at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, Co Louth, on Wednesday, August 15th, from 2.30pm-4.30pm. Led by professional musicians from Kids Classic, the workshop will look at different approaches within acute and chronic healthcare settings. Admission is free but advanced booking is advised on tradatheartworkshop.eventbrite.co.uk Live performances and a céilí will be held in various health settings as part of the Trad at Heart festival. See also kidsclassics.ie.
3) Sightsavers launched a #MissedMoments campaign in Galway at the weekend and it will run until Friday week, August 24th. Part of the campaign features a unique idea – at least to Ireland – with a "Digital Retail Display unit" in Eyre Square Shopping Centre. A donor who taps a credit or debit card to donate €2 can then watch how their simple action and small gift will help give a person back their sight.
The goal for the campaign by Sightsavers – which is an international charity working to treat and prevent avoidable blindness – is to raise enough money to help 250,000 people, about the same as the population of Co Galway. Should the Tribesmen win the All-Ireland hurling final on Sunday next, August 19th, that target should be easily surpassed.
4) The annual Irish Cancer Society Night Nurses fundraising walks will take place in Marlay Park, Dublin, and Páirc Uí Chaoimh, Cork, on Friday, August 17th, from 7.30pm-9pm. Irish Cancer Society Night Nurses provide terminally ill cancer patients with free in-home care through the night, giving family members a chance to rest. Registration costs €15 for adults and under-16s go free. For Dublin, register here: bootsnightwalknightnursesmarlay.eventbrite.ie. And here for Cork: bootsnightwalknightnursespaircuichaoimh.eventbrite.ie
5) Residents and businesses near Our Lady's Children's Hospital in Crumlin can help families who regularly visit the hospital by donating a parking space through a new initiative. The international parking business Parkpnp Global and the Children's Medical Research Foundation Crumlin has launched a pilot scheme to provide these parking spaces to families who need them. If you live near the hospital, find out more at bit.ly/2M5sn0z
sthompson@irishtimes.com
