News
More than 270 celebrate "Celtic Connection" and raise funds for Alpha-1 research
NEEDHAM, MA—For the second year in a row, St Patrick’s Day came a little early for more than 270 Alphas, friends and family members, who celebrated “The Celtic Connection” Saturday night.
“Hogan’s Goat,” a Boston Irish band, provided live music, and students from the Harney Academy entertained with Irish step dancing.
More than seven tables at the dinner were packed with relatives of Celtic Connection chair Bob Healy.
Chair Bob Healy and his sister, Pattie Murphy, also a member of the Celtic Connection committee.
“I’m forever grateful to the committee members who worked so hard,” said Healy. “Our silent auction committee had amazing success. And a special thanks to Angela McBride, Director of Development at the Alpha-1 Foundation, who was the glue that held us together.”
Also attending were 18 Alphas and family members from across the country who had just graduated from a training session for the Foundation’s “Building Friends for a Cure”.
The BFC trainees teamed up with Celtic Connection committee members. They learned the nuts and bolts of event organizing, assisted with some preparations, and enjoyed the evening.
Donations and a silent auction of 68 items raised more than $20,000 to help fund research to find a cure for Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency.
Alpha-1 is a genetic condition that can result in lung and liver disease. The condition originated in northern Europe, and is relatively common in Ireland and in Irish-Americans, which led organizers to the “Celtic Connection” name for their event.
Terence Flotte, MD, left, receives his Irish shillelagh from John Walsh at the Celtic Connection dinner.
Kailey Walsh, daughter of committee member Fred Walsh, sang the national anthem, and Angela McBride sang the Irish national anthem to open the event.
John Walsh, president & CEO of the Alpha-1 Foundation, acknowledged the organizing committee and sponsors. He also introduced honored guests Terence Flotte, dean and executive deputy chancellor of the University of Massachusetts Medical School, and Darrell Kotton, MD, associate professor of medicine at Boston University Medical School.
Both doctors are involved in ongoing research on Alpha-1.
Of course, everyone partook of the traditional Irish feast of corned beef and cabbage.
Celtic Connection committee members were Bob Healy, chair; Susan Binnall, Lyn-ann Coombes, Sheila Favazza, Pat Jackson, Nancy Joyce, Liam Lynch, Joanne Mellady, Pattie Murphy, Sandy
Ringgard, Barbara Sardzinski, Claire Sullivan, Fred Walsh, Karen Wonoski and Alyce Yout.
Harney Academy Step Dancers perform traditional Irish dances.
The Celtic Connection was sponsored by AlphaNet, Balloons over Boston, Baxter BioTherapeutics,, Centric Health Resources, CSL Behring, Angela and Mary McBride, Talecris Biotherapeutics, Diane and John Walsh, Cindy and Joe Zuraw.
