Anam Cara's 2012 National Awareness Campaign
A Balloon to Remember, in memory of Irish Children who have passed away, will take place this year on Friday 2nd November. More information about this years campaign will be on this website soon. Miriam O Callaghan will be our ambassador for this years campaign.
This poignant awareness campaign "A Balloon to Remember", is an initiative created by Anam Cara in memory of every child, young or old, who has passed away in Ireland. The campaign aims to highlight the invaluable and unique support Anam Cara provides bereaved parents as it is parents who have themselves lost a child running almost every aspect of the organisation.
When it occurs, the effect of the death of a child is felt far and wide in every community in Ireland. In a recent survey conducted on behalf Anam Cara, 58% of Irish people directly know a family that has experienced the unimaginable loss of a child* highlighting the ever growing need for support services in this area. Anam Cara is a national voluntary support group set up by bereaved parents who provide support, understanding and a forum for families who have experienced the death of a child, regardless of age or circumstance of death.
Anam Cara Ambassador, Miriam O’Callaghan has seen firsthand the devastation the death of a family member can have on parents and siblings having lost her sister Anne in 1995,
“Anam Cara provides an invaluable service to anyone who has suffered the loss of a child or a sibling. Following the initial days and months after the tragic death of a family member, when support unintentionally slips away due to everyday life taking over for others, bereaved families still feel the pain and loss each and every morning they wake up and remember. Anam Cara is the service that remembers with you, while also providing a support network to help you through the tough times.”
Sharon Vard, CEO of Anam Cara and bereaved parent noted
“Currently the families of those who have been ill usually hear about Anam Cara through their hospital. For those whose child dies a sudden death there is often no formal support and they don’t know that Anam Cara is there. With this campaign we aim to raise awareness amongst the general public of Anam Cara and how we can support parents in their grief.
Every year in Ireland approximately 1,950 families lose a son or daughter. This figure and the huge response we have received in just a couple of years clearly demonstrates the need for our service. An additional aim of the campaign is to raise funds to continue our growth throughout Ireland so that all these families can benefit from our services locally
If you would like to sponsor and dedicate a balloon click here...
