Magee student takes action against dementia with fundraising efforts

Three Power NI placement students Amy McBride, Eoin Logue and Cara McKinstry helped raised £8000 for the energy company’s charity partner, Dementia NI. Pictured (l-r) are Amy, Fionnuala Savage (Dementia NI) Eoin, Gwyneth Compston (Power NI) and Cara.

Cara McKinstry is studying business studies with marketing at Ulster University, Magee.

Cara helped raise the funds alongside fellow students Amy McBride and Eoin Logue.

Over 20,000 people are living with dementia across Northern Ireland and the cash raised by Power NI staff members will support the Dementia NI’s peer to peer empowerment groups in each health trust.

The teams who run the groups offer peer support, training and provide a voice for those people living with the condition.

Dementia NI was set up in January 2015 by five people living with a dementia diagnosis.

Fionnuala Savage, income generation manager at the charity congratulated Power NI staff for their efforts.

“Power NI’s year-long partnership with Dementia NI aimed not only to raise substantial funding but also to increase awareness of the vital work we carry out in helping people affected by dementia. With Power NI’s support, Dementia NI will continue to help many more people living with dementia and their families to rebuild their lives.

“Without our support, people diagnosed with dementia can be left feeling anxious and frustrated which can lead to social isolation and depression. Our empowerment officers and volunteers encourage people who have received a dementia diagnosis to achieve the things that are important to them, so that while their life will not be same as before, it is still very much worth living.”

Gwyneth Compston from Power NI said, “Our placement students, Cara, Eoin and Amy did a fantastic job during their year with Power NI. They encouraged all of our staff across our three sites to get involved and organised a huge range of events from bake sales to quizzes and raffles to prize draws .

“Our charity trio also took part in an abseil down the front of the Europa Hotel alongside seven other staff. I would like to thank all our wonderful staff for helping us raise this fantastic total – everyone was so enthusiastic and generous and we all had great fun.

“We’re delighted to be Dementia NI’s first ever year-long corporate partner and were pleased during our year that Power NI was able to facilitate workshops with staff colleagues and Dementia NI members to raise our own awareness and gain or change opinions of dementia. We do hope we can build on our relationship with Dementia NI in the future.”