It’s fair to say we absolutely thrashed our target!! There’s still money trickling in, but as of now we have £4,335 in this year’s Just Giving account and another £375 on its way!! Yet again we are humbled by the generosity of family, friends, musicians and businesses who continue to support us year on year.
The gig itself was superb. The musicians were on top of their game, the raffle prizes top quality, and everyone was in great form. I couldn’t count the number of people who told me what a great time they were having and/or how happy they were to take part and/or be there! A few also mentioned our Riverbank Relatives Room in Causeway Hospital. This wonderful haven was entirely funded by Macmillan in NI, using money raised by Triciafest fundraising. After a long delay due to the covid pandemic, we are finally close to getting the room officially opened. This will be a wonderful day for us. It’s such an important resource for patients and families who are unfortunate enough to find themselves in the hospital and in need of somewhere to take a break from the world. I am so sad my dad didn’t get to see it. We lost him in October in the same hospital as the room, but he wasn’t fit to visit it. I know he would love it. Especially the wall that resembles a section of our local river. The Cutts is a section of the river where lock gates result in fast flowing water. It runs alongside a path in a forest where he used to take my sister and I on walks to when we were kids. The incredibly talented painter who completed the art in the Riverbank Room, didn’t know The Cutts had special meaning for us when he chose to paint it on one of the walls. Hubby and I went to see the finished art and I cried when I saw it, not only is it stunning, it’s all the more poignant now that daddy has passed away.
On a day of wonderful serendipities, upon leaving the room in tears, a familiar face happened to be walking past the door……… my Macmillan nurse! The man who helped save my life, who inspired the fundraising and the room!! It was wonderful to show him what had resulted from his kindness and expertise.
I can’t wait to see the room officially open and in regular use. It’s wonderful to be able to show a tangible outcome from just a small portion of the money that has been raised.
What a great bunch of people!! We are truly honoured and eternally grateful to everyone who helps in whatever way they can. Team Triciafest continues to grow and the positive energy is flowing!!
As far as my health goes, I remain better than we could ever have expected. My 6-month MRI scan results continue to indicate “everything remains very quiet and very stable”…..I love this phrase for so many reasons but get great pleasure in telling my husband “Sure it’s just like me, very quiet and very stable!!”
I continue to work 4 days a week and have recently moved into a slightly different role that I’m excited to get stuck into. I’m still sea dipping and attending music gigs. My piano playing is improving, though remains somewhat unpredictable at times lol.
Life is good. Living with…. xx
