Teddy bears for Alzheimer’s

A local woman is well on her way towards a target of raising €20,000 for the North Tipperary branch of the Alzheimer Society with her handmade teddy bears.

Breda O’Meara (81) has liked sewing ever since the time she watched her mother making a First Communion dress for her. Sadly, Breda’s mother later developed Alzheimer’s disease and now another member of her family is living with the condition.

The Alzheimer Society of Ireland has therefore long been a cause close to Breda’s heart. The Ballycommon woman was recently encouraged by her friend and Alzheimer Society colleague Mary Lynch of Nenagh to start making teddy bears as a fundraising initiative.

She made the first of her unique teddies last year. People were so impressed with the creation that Breda decided to make more and bring them around to local schools to see if children would like to take them in exchange for donations to the Alzheimer Society.

Breda went to 20 schools around North Tipperary and raised €6,500 for her cause. This year, she aims to visit 60 schools and raise a total of €20,000. She revealed that she has so far already raised €9,500, and spoke of how much she is enjoying the experience.

“The welcome I get in the schools has been emotional,” Breda said. “The teachers, the pupils, the parents, have been so good. I’ve met nothing but smiles.”

She told of how a boy she met in one school came up to her with hears in his eyes and said his grandfather had Alzheimer’s. Breda gave him a hug and presented him with one of her teddies.

“The school children’s eyes just light up when they see a teddy bear,” Breda said. “Every teddy bear I make, I give it a hug.”

Breda uses material donated from the world-famous John Hanly & Co of Ballyartella Woolen Mills. Some of it consists of off-cuts or “seconds” that she can find use for with her sewn creations. She wished to thank all at Hanlys, in particular Geraldine and Edel in the shop. She makes the bears in a variety of different colours and styles, and decorates them logos provided by her nephew JP. Each bear is finished with her authentic ‘Handmade with Love’ label.

It takes Breda around three hours to make each bear. She describes the process as a labour of love, and it is certainly attracting plenty of attention. John O’Donnell, a Waterford man with a Nenagh connection, is going to donate a new Singer sewing machine to Breda’s cause. She also mentioned that the Garda College in Templemore is going to run a fundraiser to help her gather more donations for the Alzheimer Society.

Having once run a wool shop of her own in Nenagh, Breda is enjoying her new teddy bear enterprise and welcomes anyone wanting a bear made for them to contact her at 087-3296209. She is keen to point out that every donation goes to the Alzheimer Society and everything that is raised in North Tipperary is spent in North Tipperary.

The teddy bear fundraiser is just one of a series of fundraising initiatives being run by the local branch of the Alzheimer Society, which is this month also relocating to a new base on Kenyon St, Nenagh. Following the success of last year, the local branch will be running another golf classic on Friday, May 26. It will take place at Nenagh Golf Club again and consist of a champagne scramble at €160 per team of four. Among the great prizes are green fees for some top golf courses.

Those interested in participating are asked to register their team at the Pro Shop at 067 31476.

The local members wanted to thank Tony Donlan of United Metals and The Thatched Cottage bar & restaurant for sponsoring the golf classic and their recent tea day.

THANKS

Looking further ahead, the local volunteers are organising a poker classic at The Thatched Cottage, Ballycommon, on Sunday, June 11. Registration will begin at 5.30pm and some great prizes have been lined up; anyone who would like to sponsor this event is kindly asked to make contact with the local branch.

The Alzheimer Society provides homecare, a dementia adviser service and a daycare at home service, among other support services. The local branch is always looking for new volunteers to help out.

The local contact details are Jennifer Woods, Homecare Co-ordinator, 086-8096039, jwoods@alzheimer.ie; or David Kieran, North Tipperary Dementia Adviser, 087-9137520, david.kieran@alzheimer.ie. The North Tipperary branch is also in the process of setting up its own Facebook page.