Are you among the one in three women, and the one in five men around the world who will be affected by osteoporosis?

The hospital at Tallaght has a busy trauma and orthopaedics unit dealing with fractures, many of which are caused by osteoporosis. This condition can develop silently and lead to debilitating fractures of the spine, hip and wrist. It causes severe disability and can be fatal.

In 2006, The Meath Foundation is targeting osteoporosis for an exclusive research grant and kicked off this fundraising campaign with the Women’s Mini Marathon, which was held on the 5th of June.

To help raise awareness of Osteoporosis they distributed copies of the ‘International Osteoporosis Foundation One Minute Osteoporosis Risk Test’ so that participants and their supporters could self-assess their osteoporosis risk.

The Meath Hospital was founded in 1753 to provide health care for the poor of Dublin city.Funded entirely by voluntary subscriptions, the Hospital attracted some of Ireland’s most celebrated physicians and surgeons. With the move to Tallaght in 1998 the Meath Foundation was established as a charitable body and successor to the Board of the Meath Hospital. For further information contact (01) 4145896/4142432, e-mail meathfoundation@amnch.ie or visit their website www.meathfoundation.com

Pictured above are Carmel Kelly, Frances Mantle, Edel Gannon, Bridget Gannon and Alice Foley.