Thursday night’s Health and Wellbeing Event, hosted by the Finn Valley Community Health Forum (FVCHF), was incredibly successful with over 450 attendees from across Donegal.
The attendees benefited from the advice and support of 82 exhibitors with stands ranging from healthy eating, HSE self-management to hobbies and holistic health. There was truly something for everyone at the Finn Valley Centre.
Statistics on the evening included:
- 82 businesses, groups, individuals with stands
- Around 450 people through the doors
- Over 500 free cups of tea and coffee served
- Approximately 60 people attended workshops
- 5 huge hampers won & over 30 spot prizes given out at the Blood Pressure table (thanks to the exhibitors for their generosity)
Monica Ramsey from the FVCHF commented, “We’d like to say a special thank you to Patsy McGonagle and the Finn Valley Centre for offering the venue for free and supporting us year on year. The event wouldn’t have been such a success without all our stand holders and their energy, goodwill, and all-around niceness. We know that many of them are volunteers, or were giving up their time out of work hours. It’s a huge commitment from everyone to make it happen.”
The night involved talks and demonstrations from a wide range of exhibitors including Donegal Tai Chi, Relax Kids, Mental Health Ireland and Conor Gallinagh who is Horticulture Advisor.
Corina Caterson Flynn from FVCHF wants to say thank you to the volunteers who made the event happen. “I’d like to thank the members of the committee who give up their time on a voluntary basis to organise this huge event. And thank you to the many people who come on the day to help out, like the Men’s Shed and our parking stewards.”
Leah Fairman of Ballybofey and Stranorlar Chamber of Commerce commented, “It was great to see so many businesses from the Finn Valley taking part. And of course, the event wouldn’t be the same without the wonderful support of The Hatter Tea Room providing free tea and coffee to all attendees. It’s been our pleasure to support this leading event in the Finn Valley.”
The Finn Valley Community Health Forum was set up in 2006 as part of the National re-organisation of local Health Services Executive (HSE) primary care services. Its vision is ‘To ensure a fair, equal and inclusive primary care system in the Finn Valley’.
It encompasses the geographical areas of a Cloghan, Stranorlar, Ballybofey, Convoy, Drumkeen and Killygordon.
The forum receives a small amount of grant aid from the HSE under Social Inclusion, with additional funding being secured from other agencies to ensure quality provision for voluntary agencies, organisations and groups to come together to work on Health & Social issues affecting people across the Finn Valley area.
If you are interested in finding out more, want to add to the event or wish to join the FVCHF please contact finnvalleyhealthforum@outlook.com
Check out these photos from the event below!
