The Paul Stafford Foundation raises €70,000 for 1LIFE
The 3rd Annual Paul Stafford Foundation handing over a cheque for €70,000 to 1LIFE, Irelands first dedicated 24hr Suicide Helpline
Pictured at the presentation of €70,000 by The Paul Stafford Foundation to 1Life was Graham Stafford (The Paul Stafford Foundation), Noel Smyth (3T’s), Paul Kelly (1life), Craig Doyle and Laura Woods.
The Paul Stafford Foundation was established in 2007 to raise awareness and address the serious issue of suicide in Ireland. It was founded by a group of people who were directly affected themselves by suicide and had lost someone they loved to this ever increasing problem. A young man called Paul Stafford is the inspiration for the foundation because in 1997 he took his own life, aged 26 and like so many suicide victims, left behind his distraught family and friends. 10 years later, those affected by this special man, felt a need to come together and do something to address the major issue of suicide in Irish society.
The committee behind the Paul Stafford Foundation are committed to raising awareness and funds to make a real difference and fight this problem which has affected so many Irish families. To date three significant events have been held in order to raise money and tackle the issue of suicide. Over €200,000 has been raised, and has gone directly to help Suicide related charities, with proceeds from this year’s ball, going directly to 1LIFE – Irelands first dedicated 24hr suicide helpline.
ABOUT 1LIFE- In figures
Number of Calls: Approx. 18,000 calls in the first 6 months of the operation of the helpline:
Average monthly: Approx 3000 but that figure is increasing every month
Centres: HQ: Dublin
Branches open: Galway & Celbridge
Branches due to open in coming months: Cork, Limerick & Wexford
Services: Freephone helpline number 1-800-24-7-100
Text Support Text “HELP” to 51444 (standard text rates apply)
By invitation: face to face counselling and cyber counselling
Volunteers: The helpline is staffed by a team of professional counselors supported by a team of highly trained and qualified volunteers.
We urgently require volunteers for all our centres.
For information on volunteering possibilities, see www.1life.ie
The 2010 WALKERS TVNOW AWARDS
Dublin 22nd May 2010: Dublin’s Mansion House was the place to be last night, for Ireland’s only TV awards ceremony. For the fifth year running the Walkers TV Now Awards celebrated the very best on our television screens, with a galaxy of International & Irish TV stars jetting in to attend.
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The hotly contested Favourite Soap award went to Coronation Street, with Tony Tormey of Fair City picking up Favourite Male Soap Star and Katherine Kelly of Corrie winning Favourite Female Soap Star. Having walked away from the British Soap Awards empty handed, the cast and crew of Emmerdale were delighted with the great response from Irish viewers- with the Dingles wining The Walkers Favourite Soap Family award. Bill Roache, who plays Ken Barlow on Coronation Street and is the soap’s last remaining original cast member, was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award for 50 years on the show.
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Ireland’s Favourite TV Show Ever was another big award on the night, with Fr Ted taking the winner, bringing back memories of much loved television favourites to the guests. The penultimate award on the night was the Inaugural Hall of Fame award which was collected by Rex and Lottie Ryan on behalf of their late father, much loved radio DJ Gerry Ryan.
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As always, the fashion didn’t disappoint, with the red carpet awash with stunning creations. Corrie stole the show with a mix of high street and couture. Shobna Gulati wore Philip Armstrong Couture, Michelle Keegan (Tina McIntyre) looked stunning in a dress by Vicky Martin with Brooke Vincent (Sophie Webster) wearing high street favourite Lipsy. Reality TV Star Michelle Heaton dressed for the heat-wave in a burnt orange gown from a Marbella boutique. Stylist Lisa Fitzpatrick dressed to impress, in a navy & white silk dress with vintage lace by Marion Murphy Cooney. Model Pippa O’Connor wore a fabulous dress from one of her favourite boutiques- Soho in Naas. Newsreader Elaine Crowley of TV3 wore a fabulous black dress from Coco Boutique in Clarendon Street, flown in especially from LA for Elaine to wear on the night. Rosanna Davison was simply stunning as always in an Ashish dress and Louboutin shoes. TV3 Weather girl Anna Daly matched her fair complexion with a full-length powder pink dress from soap star favourite boutique Lara. Former Rose of Tralee Aoibhinn Ni Shulleabhain sported a silver Catherine Malandrino dress. Glamorous Gaelgoir Sile Seoige was resplendent in a leopard print dress by American label “Stop Staring”. Louboutins were most definitely the shoe of choice on the night, with a host of stars slipping their feet into the skyscraping heels!
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The party wasn’t over when the ceremony ended, with all the glamorous guests heading to Krystle nightclub on Dawson Street, where owner Rangan Aruchelvan pulled out all the stops to show every guest the best of Irish hospitality.
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Michael O’Doherty, Publisher of the VIP Magazine Group, commented “This was Irish TV’s big night out. We are all so delighted that such a stellar roster of stars came out to celebrate the best of Irish television. I would like to congratulate the big winners on the night, and also want to thank everyone who pulled out all the stops to ensure the ceremony went without any hitches. This was my first time co-presenting the awards and it was a pleasure to share the stage with the delightful Glenda Gilson.”
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