Mother’s ‘hero’ idea focus of Alzheimer’s fundraiser

A BUSY mother-of-two is getting her big break into public relations thanks to the Alzheimer Society of Ireland who will be using her ‘hero’ concept in a campaign to be launched on World Alzheimer Day in September.

Society spokesman Ian McKeever said the 'hero' idea devised by Angela Carthy McCormack from Athlone, Co Meath, would appeal to a much younger age group. In particular, the society hopes the campaign 'Who's the Hero in Your Life?' will help them educate school children about Alzheimer's and the effects the disease.

"Well, children don't drink tea," he said referring to the society's annual fundraiser where thousands of people drink a cup of tea to raise much needed funds.

Angela's winning project was one of around 45 submitted in the competition supported by the Irish Academy of Public Relations and sponsored by Pfizer Ireland.

Angela, a teacher at Moate Community School, has been managing to make time in her busy life to pursue a two-year diploma in public relations at the Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology.

As well as getting the chance to see her project incorporated in the society's campaign, Angela, aged 42, also won the top award of €2,004.

She will also be able to charge what PR people call '60 billable hours' at €100 per hour that will be paid to her by Pfizer for overseeing the project.

"The project is very loosely based on the concept of heroes because everyone aged two to 92 can associate with somebody in their life who is their hero," Angela explained.