Riverdance Honours Eithne's Memory
For the second successive year, Riverdancers, colleagues and staff of RVEEH and friends and family of Dr Eithne Walls will be honouring and celebrating her memory in running the Flora Dublin Women's Mini Marathon on Monday June 6th 2011.
In 2010, some 13 Riverdancers, past and present, together with Eithne's friends and family came together to run in Eithne's memory and raised over €7,500 for the Research Fund at RVEEH established by her family following the tragic accident. This fund supports the vital work of the Research Foundation into Eye Disease.
This year many more have joined us, and over 40 are registered to run, jog or walk in tribute including Eithne's mum Mary, sister Kathryn and cousins Nicola, Maeve and Sarah.
"We are delighted and honoured that so many people have volunteered their time and energy to join us in what we hope will become an annual opportunity to remember Eithne and which enables her to continue to have a positive impact on our society. In particular we wish to thank Sean O'Brien and Julian Erskine of Riverdance and Dr. Aoife Doyle of RVEEH, without whose support this event would not be possible, and of course all of the runners and walkers. All of Eithne's passions in life - dance, work, family and friends - are represented by those participating and their generous sponsors. It gives us great comfort to be supported by all of you and to know that Eithne can continue to improve the lives of others through the valuable work of the Research Foundation. We hope the weather is kind to us and that you all enjoy the day. We look forward to meeting all of you on 6th June as we remember Eithne." Mary Walls
6 June 2011 - Minutes before the race
Thanks to all.
1 June 2011 - Last minute training
Pictured are Nicola Byrne and Aisling McVeigh getting some last minute training in before taking part in this year's Dublin Women's Mini-Marathon on Monday June 6th. Nicola and Aisling are part of a 50-strong group (including 18 Riverdancers) taking part in this year's run to raise money for the Eithne Walls Fund for the Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital's Research Foundation. The good news for Nicola and Aisling and all of their 40,000 fellow runners is that the weather forecast for Dublin this weekend is that, in stark contrast to last year's rain-soaked event, it's going to be a hot one. Luckily for the Riverdancers they won't actually be running in their Riverdance costumes...
Please sponsor the group and donate to the fund here:
Women's Mini Marathon 2010 photo gallery
Dr Eithne Walls
On 1 June 2009 Dr Eithne Walls, along with her two friends and colleagues Dr Aisling Butler and Dr Jane Deasy, was a passenger on the ill-fated flight AF447 which disappeared over the Atlantic as it travelled from Rio de Janeiro to Paris.
Eithne was a doctor in RVEEH and just starting out on her exciting journey to fulfilling a lifelong ambition of becoming an eye surgeon. She was a gifted, vibrant and special person and her loss has had a profound impact on all who were privileged to know her.
Following this tragic accident Eithne's family established a research fund at the Research Foundation in her memory. This fund supports the vital research work of the Research Foundation into eye disease.
The Research Fundation - How you've helped us to help others
Currently we are supporting a number of major projects in cooperation with Trinity College, the Royal College of Surgeons and the Dublin Institute of Technology. Examples include:
- The culturing of stem cells from the eye to benefit patients undergoing corneal transplant
- A new study into ocular melanoma, a tumour of the eye which can result in loss of the eye in advanced cases, although great progress is being made in therapy for this particularly with the opening of the National Ocular Oncology service at the Eye and Ear Hospital 3 years ago.
- A study on the effects of smoking on macular degeneration which has allowed us to further our understanding of the causes of this common cause of blindness in the aging population.
The Eithne Walls fund provides particular support to young doctors at the hospital engaging in research and wishing to travel abroad to present at international meetings. Last year we awarded the first Eithne Walls Medal to Sorcha ni Dhubhghaill who travelled to the a major scientific meeting in the USA to present her work. We will be continuing this event this year, to coincide with the official opening of the Learning and Library Centre. In this way we are keeping Eithne's memory very much alive in a way she would have approved of - supporting her young colleagues in their research.
We also provide support to students taking higher degrees whilst participating in research into diseases of the eye at the College of Surgeons, under the guidance of Professor Conor Murphy.
We are grateful to all Eithne's friends and to her colleagues from Riverdance matched with generous contribution from Abhann Productions, who together raised €7,500 last year through their efforts in the Women's marathon.
We are looking forward to a good day again this year - hopefully in more clement weather and thanks again to all those who are running, walking, or just cheering from the sideline - your donations are gratefully received!
