At Octocon 2024, we’ll be fundraising for St Michael’s House.
Here’s co-Chair Paul on the decision behind selecting St Michael’s House to support in Octocon 2024:
In March of this year, my aunt Victoria passed away after a short battle with cancer. I grew up being told Victoria was Special, a word I later learned was to explain that she was a person with Down’s Syndrome. She was a student in St Michael’s House before it became more common for children like her to attend mainstream schools. It gave her a place to learn, to meet others like herself, and to develop the personality that lit up every room she walked into. She had a laugh that I can still hear all these months since she passed, a love of Dirty Dancing (and in particular Patrick Swayze – she called herself Mrs Swayze) and a passion for the Soaps. She was buried on World Down Syndrome Day, after a mass filled with tears and laughter alike.
I want to thank the Committee for allowing me to honour Victoria’s memory in this way through the support of St Michael’s House.
As part of our fundraising efforts for St Michael’s House, we’ll be hosting a Table Quiz on Saturday evening, as well as a raffle. Once again, the raffle will take place during the closing ceremony on Sunday evening, with tickets available throughout the weekend.
Our poster artist, Conor Carroll, will also be selling prints of the artwork for this year’s Octocon, with the profits going to St Michael’s House.
Any and all donations in excess of what we ask for regarding entry to the quiz or the purchase of raffle tickets are greatly appreciated.