Newsletter from Frances - 5 April 2009
How’s it going everybody?
It’s a long time since I brought out a newsletter, so I was thinking it’s time to let you all know what I am up to at the moment.
My life has been so hectic that sometimes I feel there are not enough hours in the day for me to get through it all, but I have to say that I am loving every minute of it. Life is going great for me. As you all know I have been gigging away. The gigs this year have been great and I have to say as I get older I really feel I am enjoying them more and more. The audiences have been amazing and the only way I can explain it is that when I get up on stage it’s like I am performing in front of my dear friends. I can feel so connected to all of you that come and see me perform. It’s the most amazing feeling in the world and I hope and pray that it continues on for another while.
I am still working in the Rutland treatment centre as an addiction Counsellor. I love this work and find it really rewarding but as some of you may know already my main passion at the moment is the foundation I have set up. It’s called The RISE Foundation of Ireland and it’s for families who have loved ones in addiction. This is the work that is taking up every moment of my time. I suppose setting up a foundation is all so new to me and there is so much involved. I am just not used to it. One of the first things I have done is to set up a Family programme which contains an 8 week programme of Addiction education, counselling, peer support and information on intervention. I have designed an educational programme to help change the way that addiction is managed in the family system. I believe that by connecting with families to help them face the reality of coping with addiction and help them address the denial that may be present it can give a ray of hope to the families who are suffering from this devastating disease of addiction.
I hope this 8 week programme will help families who have loved ones in addiction emerge from their powerlessness with pride, power and passion. It will assist families to engage in their own recovery, it will educate them about Addiction; it will raise awareness of addiction as a disease of the family, and hopefully affect change in the family system by helping the family to care for itself, and that’s only the first part of it.
I am also looking at setting up a residential Family treatment centre on Rathlin Island (my spiritual home) this is where my father comes from. I really believe that Rathlin would be an amazing place for Families who are living with the devastation of addiction to get some reflective time for themselves and learn about the effects that this disease has on the Family.
So doing all this takes up a lot of my time as I am back and forth to Belfast all the time. I have been having many meetings with different Governing bodies about funding and hard and sometimes extremely trying as it all is, I would not give up on it and at last there is a bit of movement on it.
Anyway at the moment I am working on getting as many Women as possible to run (walk) the Mini Marathon with me in Dublin on the 1st of June this year to raise funds for the RISE foundation. Of course it’s so typical of me, I always leave things to the last minute as I only found out this week that the closing date is 21st April 2009 which is only in a couple of weeks, so if there is anyone out there who is willing to walk 10 km with me and a few of my friends on the 1st of June for Families who have loved ones in addiction you can contact us on info@therisefoundation.ie for sponsorship cards. You would have to register yourself with the Mini marathon which is www.womensminimarathon.ie. No worries at all if you are not interested in doing the marathon yourself (I know the feeling well :), but maybe you could just pass the word around, we just need as much support as we can get. Every small little bit helps.
Here is a picture of the proposed site for families, isn’t it gorgeous? It is looking out to Scotland and North Antrim. I actually think it’s the most beautiful place in the world, but then I am a bit biased. Could you just imagine the feeling for the family members escaping from the devastation of addiction and relaxing their weary souls for a short time.
I want to wish you all a really happy Easter. I am heading up to Rathlin with my Family and of course my lovely dog Blackie. I really love this time of year, especially on Rathlin. So many new lambs are born and the island is covered in daffodils, absolute heaven.... :)
It’s great to be back in touch with you all, I have missed you.
Thank you for always being there for me, I am so grateful for all your support.
Sending you all loads of love and a big hug,
Frances xxx