Aid for Pregnancy Help
Catholic Weekly (21 August 2005)
by Geraldine Kurukchi
She was alone and unsure of where to turn next, until she was blessed by an "angel on the phone". Margaret Gallagher of Pregnancy Help in Brookvale contacted Louise and helped her to create a new life for her unborn child.
As Louise speaks to me today, she moves frantically to set up a cot that Margaret has given her for her new home. Her son, beautiful, happy, and healthy, can be heard in the background as he cries for attention from his mother. Twelve months ago, Louise did not believe she could survive such trauma, but now she is thankful for "the tower of strength and support" she has found in Pregnancy Help.
Louise is just one of many women who will receive assistance from funds donated by The Catholic Women's League when it holds a fundraising luncheon to assist its 2005 Project of the Year, Pregnancy Help, on August 31 at Doltone House, Pyrmont Point.
Margaret Gallagher will speak to guests about the organisation at the charity luncheon. She said that the centre provides emotional support to women such as Louise during "extraordinarily traumatic" times in their lives.
"We've helped her enormously through some very difficult times", she said.
Vivienne Cable from Image by Design (a personal image company) will show guests how to use fashion to their advantage by helping men and women discover their best colours and personality styling.
CWL Sydney President, Mrs Moya Potts, said that the activity will not be a fashion parade, but rather a way for guests to interact with each other and have fun.
There will also be a raffle and some lucky door prizes to be won on the day.
Prizes include a pearl necklace, watch, greater union and beautician vouchers, gourmet gift basket and colour analysis at Image by Design worth about $300.
Pregnancy Help is a pregnancy-related crisis counselling service, offering support for women and their partners during their pregnancy, as well as providing on-going services for mothers, families, and single fathers with babies.
Mrs Potts urges Catholic Weekly readers also to donate any knitted items to Pregnancy Help. "It's important for us as women to take on the initiative to support other women", she said.
Tickets for the charity luncheon are $55. For more information or to make a booking, contact Catholic Women's League on (02) 9390 5153.
