June 2022 - Review of the Year

“This city doesn't just have one Peace Bridge”, said the outgoing Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, in June, “It has a hundred invisible Peace Bridges”.

Mayor Graham Warke was speaking as he hung up his Mayoral chain as his year-long term of office came to an end in what he described as a “challenging but also rewarding”.

While the spectre of Covid did not loom as large as it did for his predecessor, Cllr Brian Tierney, its ongoing presence – and threat – had to be continually negotiated in order to try and bring good health and a semblance of normality back to Derry.

Mr Warke said the public return of Halloween was a resounding success, as were both Christmas and St Patrick's Day.
An endearing legacy of Mayor Warke's term of office was his effort to bring all of Derry's communities together.

Mayor Warke seemed to glide through the age-old barriers and showed that, like the Hands Across The Divide sculpture on the western side of the Craigavon Bridge, if you hold out the hand of friendship, it will be reciprocated. Mayor Warke did just that.

As he says himself, he could not have fulfilled his term of office without the people of Derry itself.

“I'm looking out the window now at the Peace Bridge. What I've learnt over this last year is that this city has hundreds of invisible Peace Bridges,” he said.

There was more good news in June when ARC Fitness founder and registered mental health nurse, Gary Rutherford, was shortlisted as a finalist for the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) ‘Nurse of the Year’ Award 2022.

The ‘Nurse of the Year’ Awards, which were making a return this year following a two year absence due to Covid-19, aimed to recognise and reward excellence within the nursing profession in Northern Ireland and highlight the contribution nurses make to the health and wellbeing of others.

Gary reached the finalist stage of the awards after successfully attending a judging day at the Royal College of Nursing in April where he was required to give a 10-minute presentation to the judging panel followed by an interview segment.

He said: “I can’t tell you what this nomination alone means to me, never mind the prospect of potentially winning the ‘Nurse of the Year’ award.

“My desire to help others and have a positive impact on their wellbeing has always been a major driving factor into not only my chosen degree choice and career path but also what led me to launch ARC Fitness.

“I want to see people succeed, even when the odds are stacked against them and at ARC we seek to help people do just that.

“We look to give individuals who are recovering from addiction and substance misuse the opportunity to focus on improving their mental and physical wellbeing through physical activity, professional support, and re-connection with community.”

“In the short few years that ARC Fitness has been in operation we’ve watched it transform from a social media page that offered advice into a fully functioning support service with a headquarters based on the Bay Road in Derry.

“I want to say a massive thank you to the RCN for selecting me as a finalist. It truly is the greatest honour and I feel privileged to even have made it to this point.”

In June, Leslie Hill, Chairman of Parkinson's Foyle Branch, hosted a charity cycle, cycling a 50 mile 'Tour of the Foyle' to raise funds for the charity.

The cycle took place on Sunday June 26. It started at St Columb's Park, went onto Magilligan Cross, took the Ferry to Greencastle and returned to St Columb's Park.

All proceeds were directly donated to Parkinson's Foyle Branch.

Leslie, who was sadly diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in April 2016, said: "This branch is like my medication, it keeps me going, through activities and spreading the word of Parkinson's."

Parkinson's disease is a condition that affects the brain. It causes problems like shaking and stiffness that get worse over time.

Leslie continued: "When I was diagnosed, my whole life came to a halt.

“Shortly after, I became a member of Parkinson's Foyle branch. I really enjoyed and appreciated the support that I got.

“We have approximately 70 members and we are all one big family."
Parkinson’s Foyle Branch is a self-funded charity and they depend on the generosity of members of the public to keep the branch going.

Their mission is ‘Together we will find a cure, and improve life for everybody affected by Parkinson’s.’

Leslie added: “We’re close to major breakthroughs. Funding the right research into the most promising treatments, we get closer to a cure every day.

“Until then, we're here for everyone affected by Parkinson’s. Fighting for fair treatment and better services. Making everyone see its real impact.

“People with Parkinson’s, scientists and supporters, fundraisers and families, carers and clinicians, all working side by side.

“We are impatient for change, we’re taking a stand, speaking out, chipping in, and playing our part.

"I would very much appreciate it if anyone who can would donate to this worthy cause."

There was sea-faring fun in June when incoming Mayor Sandra Duffy launched the Foyle Maritime Festival Programme, with a little help from the Lillies of the Lough.

The all-female sailing group hopped on board with the Mayor to help launch the event which will see them making their debut this year at the Festival.

This event was delivered by Derry City and Strabane District Council with support from the Executive Office, Foyle Port, the Loughs Agency and Diageo.

Lilies on the Lough is a female sailing group established during lockdown advocating the positive effects that sailing has on female well-being both, mentally and physically.

The Lilies took part in the festival's daily programme of animation and also participated in the magical Parade of Light on the river on showcase night.

A major element of the Maritime Festival was the Clipper Race stopover and the arrival of the first yacht into port traditionally signals the start of the festivities.

It's now 10 years since the love affair between the city and the Clipper Race began.

Mayor Duffy said: "I am delighted to be joining some of our skilled female sailing crew to launch the Foyle Maritime Festival programme.

“We are absolutely thrilled that once again we have the opportunity to showcase our beautiful City and District with an international events programme of this calibre.”

Finally in June, former Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Alderman Graham Warke, presented a cheque for over £55,000 to Foyle Down Syndrome Trust (FDST).

Alderman Warke chose the Trust as his charity during his mayoral term and held a number of fundraising events, including the Mayor’s Supercar events and the Mayor’s Christmas Night – raising a total of £55,885.