RA In Focus
RA in Focus is a project that was launched in June 2005, aimed at raising public awareness of rheumatoid arthritis and the associated lack of rheumatology resources.
In July 2005 a national photographic competition was launched to motivate people suffering with this disease to tell their story From the many entries received, a panel of judges chose twelve winners to have their portrait taken by photographer John Minihan to feature in Arthritis Ireland's 2006 calendar and form part of a national exhibition. Since January the exhibition has been touring all over Ireland.
John Minihan is an accomplished photo-journalist with a portfolio that includes such famous faces as Princess Diana, Francis Bacon, Andy Warhol, and most notably the legendary Irish poet, Samuel Beckett.
Ireland currently has the lowest number of rheumatologists per head of population in Europe. Each month of the calendar also includes a tear off postcard addressed to Minister of Health, Mary Harney and bearing the message "More Rheumatologists please.".
The Department of Health has indicated that some 10,000 cards have been received by the Minister to date.
RA in Focus was kindly supported by Abbott Ireland.
To see related fundraising projects click here.
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