A TEAM of Tallaght-based pranic healers donated €2,000 to a homeless service in Killinarden, a donation which has helped to close a funding gap of €12,000 needed annually by the service. Run by CARP [Community Addiction Response Programme] in Killinarden, the homeless drop-in service is open every Friday from 9am to 4pm and offers those without a home, access to food, showers, laundry services, phones, information, advice and support. Opened in 2014, the service has been extended to a full day on a Friday and an average of 20 people attend weekly for breakfast, lunch, showers, laundry services and access to an outreach worker and needle exchange. Alongside offering practical supports, the service also provides advice on homeless and housing issues, assessment for homelessness and housing eligibility, placements in emergency accommodation, referrals to preventions services, advocacy for medical cards and payments and support in finding education opportunities. However, despite making a practical and significant difference to Tallaght’s homeless, the drop-in centre does not receive any funding support and must locate €12,000 to run the centre annually – a small amount considering the volume of work carried out by the drop-in service but funding that CARP does not have. In support of the drop-in centre, the Institute of Pranic Healing, which has programmes in Tallaght, donated €2,000 to CARP. Pranic healers run free events, with participants invited to make donations – a percentage of which goes back into the local community. James Kelly, CARP Manager, said: “The Management and staff of CARP Killinarden would like to sincerely thank the Institute of Pranic Healing UK and Ireland for the much needed and generous donation of €2,000. “Sadly at the moment, CARP receives no funding support towards delivering this much needed service, so this donation of €2,000 will help towards providing the service that costs only €12,000 a year to run.” For further information on the Tallaght-based pranic healing team, which includes a Caring for Carers clinic once a month in The Maldron, call 087 2386849. To support CARP call 4626033. Drop-in service offers advice on homeless and housing issues The Echo, Thursday, March 19, 2015 20 news@echo.ie By Mary Dennehy [email protected] Pranic healers donate €2k to CARP service 5k Run for Rita to take place in Tymon Park THE SECOND annual 5k Run for Rita is set to take place in Tymon Park on Saturday, March 28, with proceeds going toward Barrettstown and Conor's Crusade. Glenda Curtis from Kilnamanagh created the Run for Rita in memory of her mother Rita Savage, who died from cancer in August 2008. Last year's event, which was in aid of the Irish Cancer Society, raised €10,500 with over 300 people taking part. Speaking to The Echo, Glenda said: “Last year's event raised a huge amount, and it was something that I always wanted to do in memory of my mother. This year's training is going great with many thanks to the Pink Ladies for their hard work. “I can only hope that it will be as successful this year and that the local community in Kilnamanagh, Tymon and Tallaght will get involved. We're delighted to be returning to Tymon Park again this year.” Many local companies have also donated prizes for the raffle, which will take place in the Kilnamanagh Community Centre following the run and Anzco have donated part of the precision's timing fee for the run. Glenda said: “The money will be going toward Barrettstown and to Conor's Crusade. Conor's family are originally from Tallaght and he is a lovely nine-year- old boy who has multiple conditions. “Conor's Crusade is to raise funds to help adapt the family home so that Conor can have some independence.” A pre-registration day will take place on Sunday, March 22 from 3pm to 5pm in Runworx in the Fonthill Retail Park. The Run for Rita will kick off at 3pm on Sunday, March 28 with an after party including a raffle and DJ taking place afterward in the Kilnamanagh Community Centre. For more information, check out the Run for Rita on Facebook. Are you organising an event in 2015? Will it involve overseas visitors? Need a hand? - Community Tourism Diaspora Project 2015 In 2014 the Community Tourism Diaspora Project for the South Dublin area paid over €5,000 in grant support to small events that involved overseas visitors. Applications are now being accepted for this project for 2015. A fund of €30,000 is available for 2015, with up to €3,000 available for individual events. The projects aims are to; • Provide support in the form of small- scale funding incentives for community- based tourism events that have the capacity to carry through the legacy of The Gathering in 2013 and beyond; • Create a national network of local events with the capacity to deepen Diaspora linkages and networks that have been developed or re-activated during The Gathering year; • Foster the growth of strong county Diaspora networks on the basis that Diaspora relationships are rooted in ‘people and place’. The closing date for applications is Thursday 2nd of April, 2015 at 5pm. To make an application visit our website at www.sdcc.ie or email [email protected] Web: www.sdcc.ie DONATION: Amanda Carroll, Katherine McKenna and Joan Hunt from Institute of Pranic Healing presenting a cheque to James Kelly who received it on behalf of CARP Homeless Drop in, Killinarden High standards in Clondalkin Fairtrade bake-off competition AFTER a hugely successful Fairtrade Fortnight and lots of entries for the art competition and bake-off the winners for both were selected last Thursday. There was plenty of stiff competition in both events with students from Colaiste Bride and Clonburris National School sending in entries. TV3 celebrity chef Catherine Leyden visited Clondalkin to judge the Fairtrade Bake-Off last week and was impressed with the entrants. Students from Colaiste Bride stood out with their creation – a cake which was designed like a hamburger. The art competition was judged by Rowena Cooper of AIB and Mary Flanagan from Flanagan solicitors. As part of the special two-week long celebration there was also a special business event attended by Mayor of South County Dublin Fintan Warfield. The Meet Local Businesses to Support Clondalkin Fairtrade Town event was a great success with representatives from different companies across Clondalkin. IMPRESSED: TV3 celebrity chef Catherine Leyden judged the Fairtrade Bake-Off