Christmas fund-raising cheer for Malawi street children at The Electric Mouse

The Electric Mouse opened its doors last year with a charity weekend for Trócaire, when customers helped to raise €7,000 to help Nicaraguan street children and has since held fund-raising events for other charities including Mayo-Roscommon hospice and the Special Olympics. Meanwhile, over in England, its Comedy Club brothers have been raising money for Step (helping young adults with learning disabilities) and for BBC Children in Need – most recently donating profits from a club held last week (Nov 14).

This spirit of helping children and young adults continues this Christmas, when the venue hosts a fund-raising event for the Umoza Street Children Programme run by Venture Malawi in association with The Order of St John of God.

The fund-raising event in The Electric Mouse is being organised by Dublin-based Fiona Forkan, who’s working independently as part of a group of 12 to raise money for the charity. The group’s target is to raise €60,000 by January.

Fiona’s aim with this event is to raise sufficient funds to meet a self-imposed personal target of €5,500: “Having heard of the Venture Malawi project, I just wanted to get involved and help”. Fiona has been involved with the St. John of God doing volunteer work with intellectually disabled people in the past, and has family ties in The Order of St. John of God, namely her uncle Br Donatus Forkan OH, the Prior General of the Order, and her brother Damian Forkan Co-ordinator of Volunteers, St. John of God Menni Services.

All Moines raised by Fiona will be channelled directly to Malawi and spent specifically with a group of 61 Umoza street children, helping to provide education, school supplies, clothing and meals.

Tickets for this very special event are €10, and are available in advance direct from the venue or via Ticketmaster (+ booking fee). Entry includes a BBQ, music by Rust (excellent, danceable and upbeat), a raffle with spot prizes, and a few surprises too.

Fiona’s sourcing the raffle prizes – so all ideas for more from any interested parties are welcome. Please just contact Fiona direct at forkanfiona@hotmail.com Meanwhile, The Electric Mouse is providing the venue and all food and entertainment. All proceeds will go direct to the programme.