Council Chair nominates Enniskillen Sarcoidosis Support as her chosen charity

The Chair of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, Councillor Siobhán Currie has nominated Enniskillen Sarcoidosis Support Group as her chosen charity for her year in office.

As part of her commitment to the chosen charity, Councillor Currie will help raise awareness of sarcoidosis, offer support to the group and where possible attend  events highlighting the issues surrounding the condition.

Speaking about her choice of Enniskillen Sarcoidosis Support group as her chosen charity, Councillor Currie said:

“Enniskillen Sarcoidosis Support Group has a very important role to play in supporting those who live with Sarcoidosis and their families not only across the Fermanagh and Omagh Council district, but also across Ireland. As well as offering this support, the group work to raise awareness of this little known, but debilitating condition.  The fact that this local group is the only active group meeting regularly in Ireland is testament to the commitment of its dedicated core of volunteers.

Sarcoidosis support and awareness creation is something close to my heart and I’m delighted to have the honour and privilege to support a locally based charity, operating at a national level, during my term of office; particularly as the group celebrates its 10th anniversary in the year ahead.”

Sarcoidosis is a condition where lumps develop at different sites within the body and can impact severely on the ability of an organ to function properly. It often affects the lungs but can also affect the skin, eyes, joints, nervous system, heart and other parts of the body.

The Chair of Enniskillen Sarcoidosis Support group, Sylvia Armstrong said,

“Enniskillen Sarcoidosis Support Group is delighted that the Chair of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, Councillor Siobhán Currie, has chosen us to be her nominated charity this year. Since the Group was established almost 10 years ago, demand for our services is increasing as awareness of the condition grows and we hope to use this opportunity to make a difference to the lives of those who are affected by sarcoidosis. As demand for services grows, so does the need for additional funds and the group has organised a fundraising table quiz in Blakes of the Hollow, Enniskillen on Friday 25 October 2019.

We feel the work of our Group is invaluable to our members as it offers them support services such as meetings with informative speakers who outline how to manage their lifestyles, an opportunity to meet with those facing the same challenges posed by the condition and a chance to talk to their family members and share their experiences.”

With many new cases being diagnosed each month, the Group continues to evolve and new members have the opportunity to interact with more experienced members of the group to gain an insight into their experiences and to learn more about the condition.

The Group holds between four and six meetings a year in Fermanagh House and organises social occasions for members and their families.

For further information, please visit the group’s Facebook page at ISARC NI Enniskillen Sarcoidosis Support Group, the Irish Sarcoidosis Support website at www.isarc.ie or email the group directly at enniskillensarcgroup@yahoo.com.