Dear Grace Short Stories Competition (this is a yearly event) The Grace Nolan Foundation and the schools competition came about because of the short but inspirational life of Grace Nolan. Grace died aged 9 on November 12, 1999 from a rare blood disorder called HHT (Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia). Sadly, today, as then, this disorder often goes undetected and misdiagnosed. Grace, after many urgent admissions from March 1999, suffered a lung complication later in the year from which she did not recover.The Foundation which now bears her name is a non-profit registered charity, which succeeded in it’s goal of establishing the first HHT screening and treatment centre in 2003, at the Mercy University Hospital in Cork. The Foundation has a clear charter – to prevent the unnecessary deaths of Irish citizens, young and old, by providing funding for screening and HHT awareness programmes, and by funding genetic research to find a cure. As part of the Foundation’s fundraising efforts, the “Dear Grace” Short Story/Letter competition was born. The competition involves boys and girls from 5th and 6th classes writing to their heavenly penpal Grace, with a letter beginning “Dear Grace”, to tell her of their year just past, their families, holidays, pets, hobbies, their thoughts and feelings on the big events of the year – in fact whatever they want to tell her, locally, nationally, or globally. The winning letters are published pre-Christmas in paperback form with all proceeds helping to make HHT a thing of the past in Ireland. When we select a winning letter, we invite the entire class to the Helix in Dublin for the annual “Dear Grace Awards”, which is hosted by Brendan O’Carroll and guests. The class don’t know whose letter got them there, and, in true Oscars fashion, the suspense can be nail-biting, but so memorable and enjoyable for the children. Last year 25 schools (almost 1500 children) attended, all transport provided by the Foundation. The winning schools each receive a computer. To learn more about the Grace Nolan Foundation please go to www.gracenolan.com http://www.gracenolan.com/index.php?do=whatishhthttp://www.gracenolan.com/index.php?do=whatishhthttp://www.gracenolan.com/shapeimage_3_link_0shapeimage_3_link_1shapeimage_3_link_2

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